But while birth rates have been falling steadily across the continent for decades, the fertility rate in Ireland is now 1.98, not too far off the population replacement level of 2.1. In Poland, it’s just 1.23, among the bottom five in Europe. The country’s population actually fell by almost half a million over the last six years. Estimates suggest there will be four million fewer Poles by 2030.
But while birth rates have been falling steadily across the continent for decades, the fertility rate in Ireland is now 1.98, not too far off the population replacement level of 2.1. In Poland, it’s just 1.23, among the bottom five in Europe. The country’s population actually fell by almost half a million over the last six years. Estimates suggest there will be four million fewer Poles by 2030.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4852924.stm