Aug 16, 2022 03:53 PM
https://sciencenorway.no/childlessness-d...ts/2055465
INTRO: Most of us probably have some idea that we are part of furthering our ancestry. But this is probably not the case for the majority of those living in Norway and Sweden today. The same may also be true in a good number of other countries, researchers believe.
Researchers Vegard Skirbekk at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) in Norway and Martin Kolk at Stockholm University have together conducted a study on population data from the 19th century onwards. The study may be the first of its kind in the world.
In an area in northern Sweden, all population data from the latter part of the 19th century have now been digitised. This is the data Skirbekk and Kolk have analysed in their study. And they have found some surprising results.
From what they have been able to uncover about people born in the northern Swedish Skellefteå region in the years 1885-1899, Skirbekk and Kolk believe that this can also provide insight into something that is relevant for Norwegians and Swedes today.
It is probably also relevant to other populations in Europe. And in other parts of the world. “Despite high birth rates at the end of the 19th century, we find that almost half of all who lived at the time never had any great-grandchildren,” Skirbekk tells sciencenorway.no.
Almost as many were without grandchildren. With today's low birth rates and small cohorts, the researchers argue there is good reason to believe that the same will apply to those of us alive now... (MORE - details)
INTRO: Most of us probably have some idea that we are part of furthering our ancestry. But this is probably not the case for the majority of those living in Norway and Sweden today. The same may also be true in a good number of other countries, researchers believe.
Researchers Vegard Skirbekk at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) in Norway and Martin Kolk at Stockholm University have together conducted a study on population data from the 19th century onwards. The study may be the first of its kind in the world.
In an area in northern Sweden, all population data from the latter part of the 19th century have now been digitised. This is the data Skirbekk and Kolk have analysed in their study. And they have found some surprising results.
From what they have been able to uncover about people born in the northern Swedish Skellefteå region in the years 1885-1899, Skirbekk and Kolk believe that this can also provide insight into something that is relevant for Norwegians and Swedes today.
It is probably also relevant to other populations in Europe. And in other parts of the world. “Despite high birth rates at the end of the 19th century, we find that almost half of all who lived at the time never had any great-grandchildren,” Skirbekk tells sciencenorway.no.
Almost as many were without grandchildren. With today's low birth rates and small cohorts, the researchers argue there is good reason to believe that the same will apply to those of us alive now... (MORE - details)