The increasing average age at which women in Armenia give birth to their first child is having a detrimental impact on the country's overall demographic situation.
Operative Information Center-OMM, citing reports from Sputnik Armenia, highlights concerns raised by Manuk Movsisyan, Dean of the Faculty of Management at the Armenian State University of Economics. According to the expert, this trend is expected to lead to a decline in the total population and accelerate the aging of society.
Official statistics indicate that the average age of first-time mothers in the country is currently 29.2 years. This figure stands at 30.1 in urban areas and 28.3 in rural regions. For comparison, this indicator is higher than in many Eastern European nations. Experts emphasize that delaying the birth of the first child significantly reduces the probability of subsequent births, such as second, third, or fourth children.
The deterioration of demographic indicators is attributed to a combination of economic and socio-psychological factors. While the average age of motherhood during the Soviet era ranged between 20 and 22, modern youth increasingly prioritize career building and professional development. Consequently, the average age of marriage is also rising annually. Experts forecast that this trend will persist, with the average age of first-time mothers potentially increasing by another 1-2 years in the near future.
Armenia is approaching the status of an "aging nation." According to UN data, while the share of the elderly population was below 7% in 1995-1996, this figure reached 10.1% by early 2026. Projections remain pessimistic: by 2050, the share of people over 63 is expected to rise to 24%, while those over 60 are projected to reach 33%.
Movsisyan notes that the current fertility rate in the country is 1.7, whereas a rate of 2.1 is required for simple population reproduction.
Social support programs implemented by the government since 2014, including housing provisions and financial allowances, have yielded only short-term effects. Experts argue that a sustainable solution requires a fundamental shift in the mindset of the younger generation and the active promotion of a large-family model to reverse these long-term negative trends.
