The Total Number of Vaginal Births in First Births in Europe Per Annum: Recent Statistics, Country Breakdown, and Trends
Introduction
Childbirth practices in Europe continue to evolve in response to an array of demographic, medical, and societal trends. One of the most critical areas of maternal and child health statistics is the proportion and absolute number of vaginal births among first births (primiparous women) per annum across Europe. This indicator not only reflects access to maternal health services and women's reproductive autonomy but also serves as a sentinel of wider demographic developments such as delayed motherhood, declining total fertility rates, and the rising influence of medicalized childbirth-including caesarean sections.
This report synthesises recent (primarily 2023, with auxiliary data for 2024-2025 where available) European level birth statistics, focusing on the total annual number of vaginal first births and offering a nuanced regional and country-specific breakdown. It draws from the most up-to-date and reputable sources, notably Eurostat, national statistical agencies, and select perinatal registries, while highlighting key trends and limitations in the underlying data. Special attention is given to the interpretation of the available evidence, since many statistical agencies prioritize the reporting of live births and fertility rates over granular breakdowns by delivery method and parity (birth order).
Overall Statistics
Live Births and Proportion of First Births
In 2023, 3.67 million children were born in the European Union (EU), representing a 5.4% decrease from the prior year-the sharpest annual decline since the 1960s.1-4 The total fertility rate (TFR) across EU Member States reached a historic low of 1.38 live births per woman, underscoring ongoing demographic challenges.
Importantly, about 46.4% of these live births were to first-time mothers, according to Eurostat's disaggregated data for 2023. This proportion aligns with trends from previous years and means that approximately 1.70 million first-born children were delivered across the EU in 2023.5,6
Vaginal Births in First Births: Estimated Share and Absolute Numbers
Direct, comprehensive data on the exact number of vaginal births among first births remain limited in many official European datasets, which typically specify mode of delivery (vaginal vs caesarean) for all births combined or by parity without full coverage. However, best available multisource estimates indicate that about 60% of first births in the EU are vaginal births (including both spontaneous and instrumental vaginal deliveries), with the remaining share consisting of caesarean sections (both planned and emergency).5,7,8
On this basis, the estimated total number of vaginal first births in the EU in 2023 is:
1.7 million (first births) of these, 60% (estimated vaginal)‚ hence, approximately 1,020,000 (vaginal first births annually)
This is a best estimate, bearing in mind country level variance in caesarean rates (especially among first births) and evolving obstetric practices.
Data Gaps and Approximation Necessity
While the fertility rate and total live birth figures are robust and regularly updated, the categorization of births by both method and parity remains incomplete in many countries. This is especially true for cross-EU aggregates. The annual Euro-Peristat report provides periodic snapshots and has contributed meaningful advances, but standardization issues persist. As a result, vaginal first birth numbers are best viewed as estimates. More granular registry data are continuously advocated for by professional organizations and public health authorities.
Calculation:
Based on an approximate number of vaginal first birth deliveries in Europe per annum in Europe of 1,020,000 and a perineal tear of any degree or episiotomy rate for primiparous vaginal births of 90%9, there are an estimated 918,000 perineal tears or episiotomies at the time of primiparous vaginal births in Europe per year. This equates to an estimated 2515 tears or episiotomies in primiparous women delivering vaginal in Europe per day.
105 tears / episiotomies in PGs per hour in Europe (approximately 2/minute)
References:
1. https://formatresearch.com/en/2025/03/07/Record-drop-in-births-in-the-eu-in-2023-eurostat/
2. https://www.sciencealert.com/record-drop-in-europes-birth-rates-in-2023-risks-future-labor-shortage
3. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250307-1
5. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=630378
6. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=669961
7. https://www.europeristat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/EPHR2015_Mode_of_delivery.pdf