Are the swiss dying out? Demographic facts and perspectives concerning the current situation of child-bearing in Europe

In the last decades, the birthrates in most European countries have fallen considerably below the target value needed for the maintenance of a constant population. In Switzerland, the total fertility is 1.37 children per woman between 15 and 48 years of age (target 2.1), and in Swiss women along-excluding foreigners-it has reached the historical low of 1.21 children. The birth excess of the native population has been negative since 1998, which means that the number of inhabitants in Switzerland is only kept constant by immigrants. If the low birthrate continues for another 200 years, the native population-without immigration-will melt down to 2% of today's size, in other words: it will become extinct. The reasons for this deplorable evolution and possible countermeasures will briefly be discussed.