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The latest Eurostat statistics suggest that in 1998 the birth rate in the EU reached its lowest level since the second world war. Approximately 4.01 million babies were born in the European Union last year, down from 4.05 million in 1997. This fertility level is about one third lower than that of the mid 1960s.
Country |
Natural Change |
Country |
Natural Change | ||
|
|
in thousands |
per 1,000 population |
|
in thousands |
per 1,000 population |
|
Ireland |
+20.5 |
+5.5 |
EU15 |
+319.9 |
+0.9 |
|
Netherlands |
+61.8 |
+4.0 |
Portugal |
+6.9 |
+0.7 |
|
Luxembourg |
+1.6 |
+3.8 |
Austria |
+2.9 |
+0.4 |
|
France |
+200.5 |
+3.4 |
Spain |
+14.0 |
+0.4 |
|
UK |
+101.5 |
+1.7 |
Greece |
-1.2 |
-0.1 |
|
Denmark |
+7.9 |
+1.5 |
Sweden |
-3.4 |
-0.4 |
|
Finland |
+7.5 |
+1.5 |
Italy |
-39.4 |
-0.7 |
|
Belgium |
+10.3 |
+1.0 |
Germany |
-71.5 |
-0.9 |
Annual price inflation in the 15 member states of the European Union fell to 0.9% in January 1999 (down from 1.0% in December 1998). The figure for the 11 Euro-zone countries (those participating in the single currency) was unchanged at 0.8%. These figures and those for individual member states were as follows:
Country |
% change January 1999 on January 1998 |
% change January 1998 on January 1997 |
|
|
|
|
|
Greece |
3.5 |
4.3 |
|
Portugal |
2.5 |
1.6 |
|
Ireland |
2.1 |
1.2 |
|
Netherlands |
2.1 |
1.6 |
|
UK |
1.6 |
1.5 |
|
Italy |
1.5 |
1.7 |
|
Spain |
1.5 |
1.9 |
|
Denmark |
1.2 |
1.7 |
|
Belgium |
1.0 |
0.5 |
|
EU Average |
0.9 |
1.3 |
|
Euro-zone |
0.8 |
1.1 |
|
Finland |
0.5 |
1.8 |
|
France |
0.4 |
0.6 |
|
Austria |
0.3 |
1.2 |
|
Germany |
0.2 |
0.7 |
|
Sweden |
0.0 |
2,1 |
|
Luxembourg |
-1.4 |
1.5 |
During the two years preceding the launch of the Euro on 1st. January, citizens in all the member states were asked by the European Commission if they were in favour or against. The results of this opinion survey are given below:
MEMBER STATE |
SPRING 1998 |
AUTUMN 1997 | ||
|
|
% For |
% Against |
% For |
% Against |
|
Italy |
83 |
8 |
78 |
11 |
|
Luxembourg |
79 |
18 |
62 |
28 |
|
Netherlands |
73 |
23 |
57 |
37 |
|
Spain |
72 |
17 |
61 |
23 |
|
Ireland |
68 |
14 |
67 |
18 |
|
Belgium |
68 |
23 |
57 |
32 |
|
France |
68 |
25 |
58 |
36 |
|
Greece |
67 |
17 |
59 |
27 |
|
Euro-zone |
66 |
23 |
-- |
-- |
|
EU Average |
60 |
28 |
51 |
37 |
|
Austria |
56 |
27 |
44 |
43 |
|
Finland |
53 |
38 |
33 |
62 |
|
Portugal |
52 |
22 |
45 |
29 |
|
Germany |
51 |
36 |
40 |
45 |
|
Sweden |
39 |
50 |
34 |
56 |
|
UK |
34 |
49 |
29 |
59 |
|
Denmark |
34 |
57 |
32 |
62 |
|
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