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On the multifaceted impact of migration on the fertility of receiving countries: Methodological insights and contemporary evidence for Europe, the United States, and Australia

Author

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  • Christos Bagavos

    (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences)

Abstract

Background: Within the context of increasing migration flows and persisting low fertility rates in more developed areas, focus has been placed on the impact of migration on the fertility of receiving countries. Objective: The paper examines the effect of migration on the fertility of selected European countries, the United States, and Australia for the 2009–2015 period. Methods: We provide methodological insights and evidence derived from comparisons of estimates of age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) and total fertility rates (TFRs) of native-born or foreign-born women, or female citizens or noncitizens. Results: The results show that although the United States and Australia are seen as model countries of migration, the contribution of migrants to the levels and trends in the TFR and in the total number of births in these countries seems to be less significant than in some European countries. Our results also show that differences in the overall TFRs of the United States and selected European countries are driven more by the differences in the TFRs of native-born women than by the net effect of migration. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the impact of migration on fertility is a multifaceted issue, going far beyond the commonly used net effect of migration on increases in a country’s TFR. Contribution: The topics tackled in the paper are potentially interesting and under-researched in particular in the context of the recent increase in immigration flows and the persisting low fertility in Europe and the USA.

Suggested Citation

  • Christos Bagavos, 2019. "On the multifaceted impact of migration on the fertility of receiving countries: Methodological insights and contemporary evidence for Europe, the United States, and Australia," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(1), pages 1-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:41:y:2019:i:1
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2019.41.1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Guillaume Marois & Michaela Potancokova & Miguel Gonzalez-Leonardo, 2023. "Demographic and labor force impacts of future immigration flows into Europe: does an immigrant’s region of origin matter?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Nadja Milewski & Jasmin Passet-Wittig & Martin Bujard, 2025. "Infertility and Seeking Medical Help to Have a Child Vary Across Migrant Origin Groups in Germany," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(2), pages 1-38, April.
    4. Bernard Baffour & James Raymer & Ann Evans, 2023. "Recent Trends in Immigrant Fertility in Australia," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 47-67, March.
    5. Özgür Bayram Soylu & Meryem Türel, 2025. "Beyond borders: exploring the effects of syrian refugees on native fertility in Türkiye," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 1-27, September.
    6. Alberto Bucci & Davide La Torre & Danilo Liuzzi & Simone Marsiglio, 2023. "A network‐based economic growth model with endogenous migration and poverty traps," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(4), pages 833-857, November.
    7. Christos Bagavos, 2022. "On the contribution of foreign-born populations to overall population change in Europe: Methodological insights and contemporary evidence for 31 European countries," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(7), pages 179-216.
    8. Nadja Milewski & Alicia Adserà, 2023. "Introduction: Fertility and Social Inequalities in Migrant Populations: a Look at the Roles of Selection, Context of Reception, and Employment," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1-21, March.

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    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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