Born in Poland

In a country where natural growth is negative, the government has implemented a benefit programme to encourage families to have more children.

Increasing the birth rate is one of the Polish Government’s priorities. In a country where natural growth is negative (the mortality rate is higher than the birth rate), the government has implemented a benefit programme to encourage families to have more children. The first figures have already been disclosed: in January of this year alone, more than 4,000 babies were born compared to the same period in 2016.

The monetary incentive of 500 zloty (€118), was a promise made by the current Government. It came into effect at the beginning of last year to reverse the declining demographic curve, which has remained unchanged since the 1990s. The aid covers the first child born to low-income families and the second and third of other families. The purpose: to ease the burden of children on the family budget, encourage couples to have more children and to drive the economy, considering the increase in disposable income. Elżbieta Rafalska, Minister of Family, Work and Social Affairs, estimates that, by the end of 2017, 420 thousand children will have been born (385 thousand children were born in 2016). “There’s been a boom, which is good news”, added Zdzisław Sipiera, the Governor of the province of Mazowieckie, in an interview, revealing that November last was the most fertile month since 2011.