The phenomenon of "sharenting," which involves parents sharing photos and videos of their children on social media, is becoming increasingly common worldwide. In Poland, a famous influencer known as Lil Masti has become known for sharing near-constant updates about her daughter Aria since her birth, even going so far as to post a video of the birth itself.

While many new parents are becoming aware of the potential dangers associated with sharing information and images of their children online, it remains to be seen whether the trend of sharenting impacts people's desire to have children.

There has been a decline in the number of births in Poland for several years now. In 2017, the average fertility rate among Polish women was below 1.5. In 2022, it further declined to 1.27. Although we have to wait for the data from 2023, experts predict that it will not exceed 1.17. But what do these numbers really mean in terms of the actual number of children born?

Well, in 2017, around 400,000 Polish children were born. However, by 2023, this number had significantly dropped to only 272,000. In January 2024, the number of births was 8.1% lower than the previous year, and in December 2023, it decreased by a staggering 16.8%.

The map of municipalities also highlights some alarming data. For instance, in 2023, no child was born in the rural part of Kleszczele municipality. Additionally, 30 municipalities saw only ten or fewer children being born. The situation is particularly grim in the northeastern and eastern borders of the country.

The situation is not much better on the western border either. Looking at the map, we can see that low fertility rates are more common in municipalities located at the country's borders. This could be due to economic factors, as families with lower incomes may find it more challenging to support another child.

Source: Forsal