Demographic Shifts and Fertility Trends in Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe, including countries like Poland and the Balkans, is experiencing significant demographic changes marked by both emigration and returning migration. While Poland sees some individuals returning from cities such as London due to economic opportunities, emigration has slowed, making Eastern Europe a destination for immigrants from regions like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Ukraine. The overall narrative reveals a shift where Eastern Europe is contributing to Western Europe's demographic stability rather than relying on its support. In terms of fertility rates, the data from Eastern Europe may not fully reflect reality due to political reasons that motivate governments to underreport the number of residents. For instance, a country like Croatia may show demographics that do not account for significant emigration of youth, rendering fertility rates inaccurately low. If births by Eastern Europeans living abroad were included, it's possible that fertility rates in Western Europe might be even lower than those in Eastern Europe, challenging the perception of declining fertility in the latter region.

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