Fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime — must be about 2.1 births per woman to maintain population size without immigration.

New data reveal vast swaths of Europe, East Asia, and the Americas have rates far below this replacement threshold, while much of Sub-Saharan Africa has women having four, five, or even six children on average.

Globally, fertility has more than halved since the 1950s, when the average woman had around five children. Today, the global average is about 2.3, according to the UN’s World Population Prospects.

Even Latin America, which once had some of the world’s highest fertility rates, is now approaching sub-replacement levels. The United States sits around 1.6 , well below replacement, and countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Italy have dropped even lower, in some cases near or below 1.1 children per woman.

The implications are profound. Populations in countries with sustained low fertility begin to shrink, workforces contract, and the share of elderly citizens rises, putting pressure on pensions, healthcare systems, and economic growth. Italy reported just 370,000 births in 2024, the lowest in its history, leaving its fertility rate around 1.18.

Greece recently announced a €1.6 billion family support package in an effort to reverse its decline, warning that its population could fall below 8 million by 2050 if trends continue. Meanwhile, India, the world’s most populous country, has crossed a historic threshold, with its fertility rate now at 1.9, below replacement for the first time.

The Peruvian government has proposed cutting the 2026 budget for public order and security, even as the country faces a wave of violent crimes. Public unease is growing, especially after 210 homicides were reported in August alone.

Human rights concerns

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly criticised Peru’s recently approved amnesty law for military and police personnel involved in past human rights violations, calling it a serious setback for justice and truth. The law is also under review by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Boluarte on corruption and governance

President Dina Boluarte reaffirmed her administration’s anti-corruption stance, declaring “we are frontal” during a ceremony where new weaponry was delivered to the National Police. She also emphasised that over 60% of the 2025 national budget is being directed to regional and local governments.

Border and sovereignty issues

Tensions flared at the Peru-Colombia border after a Colombian flag was raised inside Peruvian territory, sparking outrage among residents. The incident has reignited concerns over sovereignty and weak state presence in border regions.

Cybersecurity under fire

Peru’s Congress is summoning the Ministers of Interior and Defence following a major cyberattack on the National Police’s intelligence systems, which exposed classified information and raised alarms about the country’s cyber defences.