Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is characterized by a very high level of prenatal care, a high level of women's education, easy access to abortion, a high divorce rate, atheism, and many children born to unwed couples.

The fertility rate in the Czech Republic was 1.44 in 2007. Similar to other postsocialist countries, the birth rate declined sharply after the Velvet Revolution; in 1989, the rate was 1.87, with the lowest peak of 1.13 reached in 1999. The average age of a mother having her first child at that time was 27.1 years.

All mothers in the country are entitled to the same kind of support, although it is partially dependent on her previous employment and paid insurance. A birth mother receives a birth allowance as well as financial ...