Late Fertility Trends in Europe

European continent has been for-runner in the demographic transition process. Age-specific fertility patterns had changed tremendously during this process in Europe. However, it is still mainly concentrated in the female age group 20 – 34 years. Women and couples tend to limit fertility in marginal age groups of female's reproductive period. In this paper the author addresses late agespecific fertility trends in selected European countries. Age – specific fertility is relatively low after the age of 35 in modern demographic regime. These rates show very low fertility in the age group 40 – 44 years and only exceptional childbearing in the age group 45 – 49 years. In contrast, the age group 35 – 39 years is not only dynamic but also still important for the procreation. In general, total late fertility was higher in 1960 than in 2003 in majority of European countries. Further increase in total late fertility in most of Europe is likely, Eastern Europe included. However, late age – specific fertility will very likely retain more or less marginal share of total fertility in modern demographic regime. Late age – specific abortion will considerably contribute to this result. Povzetek: Prispevek obravnava značilnosti pozne rodnosti v Evropi v razmerah sodobnega načina obnavljanja prebivalstva.