The line graph compares the total number of births and deaths in a European country between 1950 and 2050, measured in hundreds of thousands.
Overall, the birth rate exhibited greater fluctuations compared to the relatively stable pattern of deaths. Whereas births consistently outnumbered deaths for most of the period, predictions show that deaths will eventually overtake births by 2050.
In 1950, the figure for births began at about 750,000, slightly higher that that of deaths, which was just above 700,000. Following decades, the birth rate increased significantly, reaching a peak of 1 million in 1970. This was followed by a sharp decline, with the figure dropping to just below 600,000 in 1990. After that, this figure recovered modestly and remained steady at around 700,000 between 2000 and 2030. Finally, the figure is predicted to decline slightly by 2050.
By comparison, the figure for deaths followed an opposite trend. Starting at approximately 700,000 in 1950 before rising gradually to about 740,000 by 1970. It then decreased slightly and remained stable at around 700,000 for several decades. However, from 2030 onwards, the death rate is forecast to increase noticeably, peaking at around 800,000 by 2050, thereby surpassing the birth rate.
