Some factors of lowering fertility in the Republic of Macedonia

Anica Velimir Dragovich, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje

Recently changes of the demographic structure and dynamic of the population are starting point for examination demographic situation in the Republic of Macedonia. During the one decade total fertility rate decline form 2.2 in 1994 to 1.8 in 2002, and show 1.5 children per women in 2006. Underlying this decrease of fertility is the profound cultural, social, and economic change that has raised the perceived costs of leaving the parental home and having children. The lack of any explicit family policy for long time has reinforced that perception. So, recent changes in population policies and some actions taken by the government to improve demographic situation in the country are present. The main aim of this paper is to examine some factors that have influence on the low level fertility in the country within the frame of existing theoretical arguments of fertility decline.