Europe is slowly but surely running out of offspring. Currently, 100 women in Europe have around 140 children. However, almost 50 per cent more would be needed to keep the population stable. But how child-friendly are the individual countries in Europe?
The BAT Foundation for Future Studies investigated this question in its latest European survey and asked a representative sample of over 11,000 Europeans aged 14 and over in ten countries. The result: Denmark ranks first by a wide margin when it comes to child friendliness. Nine out of ten Danes categorise their country as child-friendly. And while just under half of Spaniards, Dutch and Greeks still claim this about their country, in Germany only around one in seven citizens perceive society to be child-friendly.

Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the BAT Foundation, explains the Danes„ high level of satisfaction with the high degree of emancipation in Denmark: “Whether you look at the proportion of working women, the proportion of female managers, the number of crèche places or the opportunity to combine work and family life - Denmark is well above the European average in all areas. In addition, the high value placed on families and the way they are recognised by society is also a decisive factor in this high score."

East Germans and city dwellers particularly critical

In contrast, German citizens are becoming less and less child-friendly. Compared to 2010, the figure has fallen significantly - from 21 per cent to just 15 per cent. The German population is also divided when it comes to child friendliness. Western Germans and rural dwellers rate the topic much more favourably than city dwellers and citizens in the east of the country. There are also major differences in terms of age - the older people are, the more negative their perception of child friendliness. Nevertheless, the value remains low in all subgroups, regardless of age, gender, origin, income or other distinguishing characteristics.

Professor Reinhardt: „More crèche places and all-day schools, the introduction of a childcare allowance or a split parental allowance - all of this undoubtedly helps many families. But such measures say nothing about the child-friendliness of everyday life in our society. This would start with an infrastructure that is not just geared towards adults, but is more responsive to the needs of families and children, as well as a working environment that allows families to combine work and family life. However, child-friendliness in everyday life also includes little things, from the slice of sausage at the butcher's to the neighbour who doesn't immediately complain when it gets noisy next door.
Politics and business are therefore called upon to set the framework conditions. However, it is also up to each individual citizen to show more tolerance and respect. Everyone should always be aware that children's noise really is our future.