The Basque Country has experienced a significant demographic shift, marking its first annual increase in births in over a decade as of 2025. This resurgence is notably attributed to Moroccan women, who have emerged as the largest group of foreign mothers contributing to this positive trend. According to the Basque statistical institute, a total of 13,344 babies were born in this autonomous community last year, reflecting a 3.1% increase from the previous year, 2024. This rise in births is particularly remarkable as it ends a long-standing decline that has persisted since 2011.
This upward trend has been observed across all three provinces of the Basque Country—Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Álava—with Bizkaia recording the highest absolute number of births. The data reveals that foreign-born mothers have played a crucial role in this demographic rebound, with 692 babies born to Moroccan mothers in 2025, making them the leading nationality among foreign mothers. Other notable contributors include mothers from Colombia, Algeria, and Pakistan, among others.
The statistics indicate that foreign mothers accounted for more than a quarter of all births in the Basque Country, while over one-third of all mothers were born outside of Spain. This highlights the increasingly vital role that immigrant communities are playing in shaping the region's demographic landscape. Historically, the Basque Country has been identified as one of Europe’s regions with the lowest fertility rates, often influenced by factors such as an aging population, delayed family formation, and low fertility rates among native-born women.
In light of these demographic challenges, younger immigrant populations have become essential in sustaining birth levels and mitigating the effects of demographic decline. However, experts urge caution regarding the interpretation of these positive birth figures as a definitive turnaround in fertility trends. They point out that persistent structural challenges, including issues related to housing affordability, labor market conditions, and a societal trend towards later childbearing, continue to exert pressure on birth rates throughout the region.
Nonetheless, the birth figures from 2025 represent a significant demographic development for the Basque Country following years of continuous decline. This trend not only underscores the growing influence of immigrant families on population renewal but particularly emphasizes the contribution of Moroccan families in northern Spain.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
