Religion and size of family
Maier, W.
Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde 36(11): 927-931
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-5751 PMID: 992309 Document Number: 107339
A study was undertaken, using the birth registry statistics in Bavaria from 1973 to 1975, to determine correlations between family size and religion. In general a 7% decrease in births was recorded in Bavaria during this period. In marriages where both spouses were Catholic the number of 1st children decreased about 2%; of 2nd children 6%; 3rd, etc. 20%. The corresponding figures for Protestant couples were 8, 9, and 25%, and for mixed Protestant-Catholic marriages the percentages were comparable. In families where 1 of the partners was not Christian (in most cases an alien) a divergent tendency was observed: 31% increase in 1st children; 20% increase in 2nd children; 3rd, etc. 14% increase. Investigations concerning the relationship between family size and duration of marriages revealed similar tendencies. In Catholic marriages of more than 10 years an 8% decrease in the birthrate was determined, for Protestant marriages of the same duration 12% decrease, for mixed marriages also a significant decrease, and for marriages with 1 non-Christian an increase in the birthrate of 25%. The corresponding statistics for marriages of less than 2 years were decreases of 14, 17, and 12-14%. In modern industrial societies it is economics, rather than religion, which is the most dominant influence on family size.