Fertility in Flux: Unraveling Childlessness and Family Formation Among Return Migrants Across Four Countries

Hector Boado, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (csic)
Inmaculada Serrano, CSIC

This paper explores the fertility behavior of return migrants across four distinct countries: Argentina, Romania, Senegal, and Ukraine. Using unique data from the TEMPER project, we analyze how migration impacts family formation, focusing on childlessness, the likelihood of having a first child, and overall fertility. The sample includes 2,184 returnees, with significant variation in fertility outcomes across countries. Our findings reveal high levels of childlessness among returnees, particularly in Romania and Ukraine, where socio-economic instability may delay or prevent family formation. In contrast, Senegalese male returnees exhibit higher fertility rates, reflecting the cultural emphasis on family as a reintegration strategy. The timing of childbirth also varies, with most returnees having their first child before migration, though Argentine male returnees show a higher likelihood of fathering a child after returning. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between migration and fertility, challenging conventional demographic theories that assume a straightforward relationship between migration and reproductive behavior. By focusing on returnees, this research expands our understanding of how migration disrupts or reinforces family formation across diverse cultural contexts.

Keywords: Fertility, Population and Development, International Migration, Migrant Populations and Refugees

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