Fewer teenage mums with non-western background

Last year, 2,540 teenage girls gave birth, approximately as many as in 2006. The birth rate among most non-western ethnic groups dropped and remained unchanged among native Dutch teenage girls.

Teenage mothers by age

Teenage mothers by age

One of the lowest rates worldwide

Since 2001, the number of teenage mums has declined by 24 percent among 19-year-olds and by 43 percent among 17-year-olds.
With 5.2 births per 1,000 girls in the 15––19 age category, the Dutch birth rate is one of the lowest worldwide. Only Switzerland has a marginally lower teenage birth rate.

Births per 1,000 girls in the 15–19 age group by ethnic background

Births per 1,000 girls in the 15–19 age group by ethnic background

Considerable decline among girls with non-western background

Girls with a non-western background largely accounted for the reduction since 2001.  The amount of teenage mums with a non-western background declined distinctly from 1,736 in 2001 to 779 in 2007. The birth rate among Turkish and Moroccan teenagers approximates that of their native Dutch peer group. The birth rate among Antillean teenage girls diminished slightly, but remains nearly eight times as high as for native Dutch girls. With 1,489 in 2007, the number of first-time native Dutch teenage mums varied little from the 1,484 registered in 2001.

Births per 1,000 girls with non-western background in the 15-19 age group by generation

Births per 1,000 girls with non-western background in the 15-19 age group by generation

Few second-generation Turkish and Moroccan teenage mums

Despite a gradual increase in the number of girls with a non-western background in the 15--19 age group, the number of teenage mums declined. Firstly, the share of the first-generation in the total of non-western 15 to 19-year-olds diminished. Teenage mums were relatively common among the first generation. Secondly, birth rates dropped in the first as well as the second generation. The birth rate for Turkish and Moroccan second-generation teenagers is currently about the same as for native Dutch teenagers.

Joop Garssen