Comparing Fertility Rates Across the Western World

Key takeaways

• Fertility rates across the West are well below the replacement threshold of 2.1.
• Israel is the only Western country above the replacement rate, while most others fall between 1.2–1.8.

What is the Global West?

The “global West” refers to a group of countries with shared history, values, and alliances. It traditionally includes Europe and North America, but also extends to countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Israel that are deeply integrated into Western-led institutions. 

These countries are united by their foundation in democracy, market economies, individual rights, and geopolitical alignment through groups like NATO, the EU, and the OECD. Together, these countries form the core of the liberal international order and are often treated as the Western world in global discussions.