Khaberni - Official statistics issued by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection in the UAE revealed a decline in the number of citizen births in the country by 13.55% over 10 years from 2014 to 2023.
The data showed a decrease in the number of citizen births from 34,618 in 2014 to 29,926 in 2023, while the total number of births in the country (citizens and residents) recorded a rise of 5.45% in the same period, from 95,860 in 2014 to 101,088 in 2023.
A report prepared by the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council identified 12 challenges in boosting fertility rates among citizens, divided into health and societal challenges, while the report made six recommendations to increase the number of births and the fertility rate.
A parliamentary report, adopted by the Federal National Council, warned of the rise in the average age at marriage, with the average age of citizen males at marriage increasing from 30 years and six months in 2018 to 32 years and seven months in 2022, while the same period saw an increase in the marriage age among citizen females from 26 years and four months to 28 years and nine months. The report also warned of a significant decline in the total fertility rate of citizens during the years (2021-2023), as the rate fell from 3.2 children per woman in 2021 to 2.9 in 2023.
In detail, the Birth Data Report in the country, issued by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, showed a decline in the number of citizen births by 13.55% during 10 years from (2014-2023).
The data showed a decrease in the number of citizen births from 34,618 in 2014 to 29,926 in 2023, while the total number of births in the country (citizens and residents) in the same period recorded a slight increase of 5.45%, reaching 101,088 in 2023 compared to 95,860 in 2014.
The timeline of data shows that the number of citizen births peaked at the beginning of the specified period, registering 34,618 citizens in 2014 and 34,794 in 2015, after which it began to gradually decline, with 34,553 recorded in 2016, 34,300 in 2017, 33,700 in 2018, 32,801 in 2019, 31,604 in 2020, 31,732 in 2021, 30,889 in 2022, and finally 29,926 in 2023.
At the beginning of the monitoring period in 2014, the total number of births in the country (citizens and residents) was about 95,860, of which 34,618 were citizens. Abu Dhabi led with the highest number, with 38,035 births including 16,023 citizens, followed by Dubai with a total of 29,297 births including 8,573 citizens, then the Emirate of Sharjah with a total of 11,969 births including 3,511 citizens, then the Emirate of Ajman with a total of 7,703 births including 682 citizens, then the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah with a total of 4,073 births including 2,635 citizens, then the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain with a total of 889 births including 571 citizens, and finally the Emirate of Fujairah with a total of 3,894 births including 2,623 citizens.
The total number of births rose in 2015 to 97,328, including 34,794 citizens. Abu Dhabi recorded 38,818 births including 16,405 citizens, compared to 30,374 births in Dubai including 8,031 citizens, and the number in Sharjah reached 10,558 births including 3,451 citizens, and in Ajman 7,760 births including 539 citizens, and in Ras Al Khaimah 4,557 births including 2,957 citizens, and in Umm Al Quwain 1,228 births including 817 citizens, and in Fujairah 4,033 births including 2,594 citizens.
In 2016 the country recorded 98,299 births including 34,553 citizens, and the number of births in Abu Dhabi reached 39,731 including 16,732 citizens, and in Dubai 31,887 births including 8,147 citizens, and in Sharjah 9,923 births including 3,203 citizens, followed by Ajman with 7,379 births including 518 citizens, then Ras Al Khaimah with 4,029 births including 2,487 citizens, then Umm Al Quwain with 1,488 births including 1,018 citizens, and finally Fujairah with 3,862 births including 2,448 citizens.
In 2017, the total births reached 97,738 including 34,300 citizens. Abu Dhabi recorded 39,392 births including 16,962 citizens, and Dubai 31,815 births including 7,768 citizens, and Sharjah 9,852 births including 3,192 citizens, and recorded in Ajman 7,313 births including 539 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah 3,988 births including 2,404 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain 1,454 births including 985 citizens, and Fujairah 3,924 births including 2,450 citizens.
The number of births in the country slightly declined in 2018 to 95,309 including 33,700 citizens, with Abu Dhabi leading at 38,310 births including 17,196 citizens, followed by Dubai with 31,602 births including 7,414 citizens, then Sharjah with 10,052 births including 3,233 citizens, then Ajman with 6,780 births including 581 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah with 3,675 births including 2,110 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain with 1,343 births including 931 citizens, and Fujairah with 3,547 births including 2,235 citizens.
The decline in new birth numbers in the country continued in 2019 to reach a total of 94,697 including 32,801 citizens. Abu Dhabi recorded 37,269 births including 16,748 citizens, and Dubai 31,866 births including 6,969 citizens, and Sharjah 10,393 births including 3,259 citizens, and Ajman 6,731 births including 559 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah 3,736 births including 2,205 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain 1,363 births including 991 citizens, and Fujairah 3,339 births including 2,070 citizens.
The total number of new births rose again in 2020 to 97,572 including 31,604 citizens, while the number of births in Abu Dhabi was 37,179 including 16,208 citizens, and in Dubai 31,766 births including 6,585 citizens, and in Sharjah 11,822 births including 3,195 citizens, and in Ajman 8,486 births including 676 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah 3,769 births including 2,034 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain 1,271 births including 873 citizens, and Fujairah 3,279 births including 2,033 citizens.
Then, the total number of births in the country declined again in 2021 to 92,777 including 31,732 citizens, and Abu Dhabi recorded 36,402 births including 17,143 citizens, and in Dubai 31,477 births including 6,487 citizens, and Sharjah 11,119 births including 3,029 citizens, and Ajman 6,738 births including 622 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah with a total of 3,214 births including 1,909 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain 1,195 births including 818 citizens, and Fujairah 2,632 births including 1,724 citizens.
In 2022, the total number of births in the country rose again to 96,631 including 30,889 citizens, and Abu Dhabi recorded 36,923 births including 16,303 citizens, and Dubai 34,056 births including 7,041 citizens, and Sharjah 12,484 births including 2,843 citizens, and Ajman 6,275 births including 583 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah 2,951 births including 1,531 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain 1,281 births including 943 citizens, and Fujairah 2,661 births including 1,645 citizens.
2023 witnessed a notable increase in the total number of births, recording 101,088 including 29,926 citizens, and the number in Abu Dhabi reached 37,631 including 15,770 citizens, and in Dubai 36,300 births including 7,109 citizens, and in Sharjah 14,042 births including 2,641 citizens, and in Ajman 5,915 births including 480 citizens, and Ras Al Khaimah 3,170 births including 1,519 citizens, and Umm Al Quwain with a total of 1,250 births including 848 citizens, and Fujairah 2,780 births including 1,559 citizens.
In the same context, a report prepared by the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council on the "Government Policy Regarding Enhancing Fertility Rates in the Country" identified 12 challenges in enhancing fertility rates among citizens, divided into health and societal challenges, while the report made six recommendations to increase the number of births and the fertility rate.
A parliamentary report, adopted by the Federal National Council on "Government Policy Regarding Enhancing Fertility Rates in the Country" and reviewed by "The UAE Today", warned of the rise in the average age at marriage, with the average age of citizen males at marriage increasing from 30 years and six months in 2018 to 32 years and seven months in 2022, while the same period saw an increase in the marriage age among citizen females from 26 years and four months to 28 years and nine months. The report also warned of a noticeable decline in the total fertility rate of citizens during the years (2021-2023), with the rate decreasing from 3.2 children per woman in 2021 to 2.9 in 2023.
Chronic Diseases
The report highlighted the lack of control over the course of health challenges that cause infertility and the emergence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, severe obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking, and the prevalence of hormonal diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome and thyroid diseases, which negatively affect reproductive health. It noted that the obesity rate reached 27% and physical inactivity up to 70%, in addition to a close relationship between the decrease in fertility rates.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
The report pointed to the unhealthy lifestyle characterized by the excessive consumption of trans fats and fast food, and the resulting diseases, in addition to a problem with vitamin D deficiency and high prolactin levels, associated with limited sun exposure and the contemporary lifestyle, which has led to an increased need for egg freezing as a preventive measure.
New Standards
The report observed changes in beauty and fitness standards for women in society, and the excessive focus on weight loss and the increased popularity of slimming surgeries, which cause hormonal and physiological changes that affect fertility, along with a percentage of youth postponing marriage until after age 40, and delaying the decision to have children, driven by a desire to achieve career goals, and fear of bearing financial and living burdens, in addition to their responsibility for child care and upbringing.
Recommendations
The Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council recommended tightening control measures and inspections on all medical fertility assistance centers, raising awareness of the impact of childbearing and childrearing on society, encouraging early marriage for men and women, highlighting the risks associated with delaying marriage and childbearing, and enhancing government initiatives and programs aimed at encouraging and facilitating early marriage for young men and women, in addition to launching an awareness and educational plan through coordination with health, educational, religious, media, and public benefit institutions.
Steep Decline
In the same context, Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Head of the Community Development Department in Abu Dhabi, revealed an annual increase in the number of elderly in Abu Dhabi alone by 4,000 people, and on the other hand, the fertility rate in the UAE is experiencing a sharp decline, warning that societies are at risk if they reach the replacement point where the fertility rate falls to 2.1, which means the number of deaths in society exceeds the number of new births.
Speaking on the "100 Waves Podcast," Al Khaili said, "If the number of elderly increases and the number of children decreases, the average age increases, and as people age, they need different services and care, and at the same time, we need a generation of youth who represent the fuel of society. Therefore, we need to increase the number of births," noting that the ideal number to maintain society is that each family has more than three children, which supports the continuity of our society and economy and protects our achievements, as this number supports continued growth, and the more children there are, the better.
He added, "The number of citizens is originally low compared to the large and diverse community of nationalities, so we are keen to continue population growth for citizens to reach the adequate number, which is related to survival, and people must understand the importance of this matter and their responsibility towards their country and government, and also towards future generations, and they must understand the challenge and why the government is doing a lot of initiatives and launching strategies to encourage marriage and childbearing and to form stable families."
Health Challenges
The health challenges, warned by the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, include negative medical practices, weak control and inspection of medical fertility assistance centers, the spread of unhealthy lifestyles that affect fertility rates, the lack of federal government centers specializing in medical fertility assistance, an imbalance in the distribution of fertilization services across the emirates, and the high costs of fertilization treatments, in addition to an increase in the rate of malignant diseases, especially breast cancer.
Comprehensive National Fertility Policy
Family Minister Sanaa bint Muhammad Suhail affirmed that the fertility and reproductive health file is a national priority that we work to address from various health and social dimensions, with active participation from all relevant parties, whether at the federal or local level. She pointed out that establishing a federal fertilization center is no longer an option but a national necessity that serves the strategic targets of the state and contributes to supporting health, social and demographic policies in an integrated manner.
During a previous session of the Federal National Council, she said, "We are currently working on developing a comprehensive national fertility policy, which involves reviewing and analyzing more than 60 existing policies and initiatives, whether at the level of legislation or public policies, which directly or indirectly affect fertility rates in the state, including work policies and balancing professional tasks and family responsibilities. We are assessing the effectiveness of these policies and identifying opportunities for improvement and sustainability within an integrated governmental system, which includes key axes that encompass programs and initiatives supporting the family life cycle, preparing youth for family life, supporting family stability, and enhancing the balance between professional commitments and family responsibilities."
Societal Challenges
The societal challenges, warned by the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, include the weak educational and awareness programs aimed at enhancing the birth rate, delayed marriage age among citizens and their reluctance to marry, high rates of spinsterhood, exaggeration in dowries, high costs of marriage, high level of education, especially among women, associated with delay in marriage and childbearing, as well as the spread of individualism in society.
