• Vienna Institute of Demography (Ed.) - Éva Beaujouan - Marie-Caroline Compans - Alice Goisis - Jasmin Passet-Wittig (Guest Eds.)

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

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The Vienna Yearbook of Population Research is an open access journal that features contributions addressing population trends as well as a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues in population research. Besides Research articles and Review articles, the journal includes Data and Trends contributions, which analyse changes in population dynamics or present databases and data infrastructure. It also features Perspectives articles, which focus on ideas, concepts or theories, as well as invited Debates reflecting on selected questions and issues. Since 2008, the volumes have been devoted to selected themes following special calls for thematic issues.

The 2026 volume of the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research brings together a diverse set of contributions examining delayed reproduction as a defining feature of contemporary demographic change. The papers explore how later transitions to parenthood reshape reproductive trajectories, fertility intentions and birth outcomes for individuals and societies. Particular emphasis is placed on heterogeneities and inequalities by educational background, migration status, and place of residence. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches and drawing on data from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, the issue highlights that delayed reproduction is a lasting trend with significant consequences for future fertility and societies more broadly.
Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
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Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026
ISSN 1728-4414
Print Edition
ISSN 1728-5305
Online Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5156-2
Print Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5157-9
Online Edition



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Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2,
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400
https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: bestellung.verlag@oeaw.ac.at
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Is precarious union formation making it more difficult for women with low educational attainment to enter parenthood?

    Nadia Sturm, Alessandra Trimarchi, Jan Van Bavel

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026, pp. 1-34, 2026/05/27

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

doi: 10.1553/p-kddn-zj78


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doi:10.1553/p-kddn-zj78

Abstract

Women’s educational attainment has usually been associated with higher childlessness, but the negative educational gradient in fertility seems to have shifted in some countries. One reason for this finding could be the increasing marginalisation of lower educated women in the partnering market. We investigate whether women with lower educational qualifications are less likely to have a first child due to changes in the educational gradient in union formation. We apply logistic regressions to recent European Social Survey data from 28 countries, grouped into four regions, that include women born between 1955 and 1985. For western, southern and eastern Europe, we find a negative association between education and fertility, which narrows at older ages in the western region. The association is positive but insignificant in the Nordic region. We also find an emerging positive educational gradient in union formation for western and southern Europe that partly mediates the association between education and fertility.

Keywords: Fertility • Childlessness • Parenthood • Union formation • Educational gradient in fertility • Europe

Published Online: 2026/05/27

Object Identifier: 0xc1aa5572 0x0041995b

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Rights: © The Author(s), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2026. This article/book is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows the sharing, use and adaptation in any medium, provided that the user gives appropriate credit, provides a link to the license, and indicates if changes were made.