Event
The Maghreb region is experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates, with most women now having fewer than three children, compared with seven or eight on average in the 1970s.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 33%
The average number of children per woman in the Maghreb region has dropped to fewer than three, marking a stark departure from the seven to eight children typical in the 1970s.
Background
The Maghreb region of North Africa is undergoing a significant demographic transition, with the average number of children per woman dropping to fewer than three. This represents a sharp decline from the 1970s, when the regional average was seven to eight children per woman. The shift is reported by Ellen Gainsford for France 24 International.
The Maghreb region of North Africa is undergoing a significant demographic transition, with the average number of children per woman dropping to fewer than three. This represents a sharp decline from the 1970s, when the regional average was seven to eight children per woman. The
Fact cards
Key entities: Maghreb, North Africa.
What is the current average number of children per woman in the Maghreb? Fewer than three. How does the current birth rate compare to the 1970s? It has dropped from an average of seven to eight children per woman in the 1970s. Which region is experiencing this demographic shift?
France 24 International | https://www.france24.com/en/birthrate-drop-in-north-africa | published 2026-08-14T13:54:19.000Z | primary source | France 24 International | Primary source for the birthrate decline statistics and attribution to Ellen Gainsford. | France 24 International
1970s: Average fertility rate in the Maghreb region was seven to eight children per woman. 2026-08-14: France 24 International reports that most women in the region now have fewer than three children.
Timeline
Average fertility rate in the Maghreb region was seven to eight children per woman.
France 24 International reports that most women in the region now have fewer than three children.
FAQ
Fewer than three.
It has dropped from an average of seven to eight children per woman in the 1970s.
The Maghreb region in North Africa.
France 24 International.