![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Group-37-2.png)
![](https://breakpoint.org./wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Nordic-Baby-Banner.jpg)
A Nordic Baby Boom?
Typically, a global crisis results in lower fertility rates. In the U.S., for example, the birthrate dropped by 4%. In China, it was a staggering 15%. For years, Nordic countries have offered generous incentives to increase child births, to little effect, as have other European nations that did not see a similar boom during the pandemic. So, money can’t explain it.
02/7/22
John Stonestreet Kasey Leander
![](https://www.breakpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Group-94-1.png)
Several Nordic countries that, for decades, have had among the world’s lowest birthrates experienced a baby boom during the pandemic. In the second half of 2021, Iceland saw an incredible 16.5% more births than usual, and Finland and Norway experienced 7 and 5% more births, respectively.
Typically, a global crisis results in lower fertility rates. In the U.S., for example, the birthrate dropped by 4%. In China, it was a staggering 15%. For years, Nordic countries have offered generous incentives to increase child births, to little effect, as have other European nations that did not see a similar boom during the pandemic. So, money can’t explain it.
Perhaps for some, the pandemic highlighted what really matters.
One Icelandic mom of teenagers said: “We would just have conversations about everything and nothing and have fun and laugh. … I think that was the tipping point for me. I realized I wasn’t ready to be done with the mom thing.”
The mom thing—and the dad thing—is a good thing.
Have a Follow-up Question?
Up
Next
![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Group-91-1.png)
Related Content
![](https://breakpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Breakpoint_Logo-Primary-White.png)
© Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Image-2@2x-1.png)
![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Image-1@2x-1.png)
![](https://breakpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/candid-seal-silver-2023.png)
![](https://breakpoint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/four-star-rating-badge-1-1.png)