Changing childbearing age norms in Europe in times of fertility postponement

While extensive literature documents the massive fertility postponement of the past few decades, knowledge about whether and how social age norms for childbearing have changed remains limited. Using data from two rounds of the European Social Survey, we investigate these changes and their association with macro-level fertility indicators in 21 countries. Between 2006–07 and 2018–19, consensus regarding the existence of age norms remained strong and became more in favour of later parenthood. Decomposition analyses show that shifts in age norms were only partially driven by the changing population composition, providing support to the idea that a general attitudinal change in favour of later childbearing is underway. Our findings support gender convergence in upper social age limits because of the increasing recognition of a deadline for men’s childbearing. Although shifts in age norms are occurring in times of fertility postponement, they are only loosely associated with changes in fertility behaviours.