Trends in fertility and intermarriage among immigrant populations in Western Europe as measures of integration

Abstract

Demographic data on fertility and intermarriage are useful measures of integration and assimilation. This paper reviews trends in total fertility and intermarriage of foreign populations in Europe and compares them with the trends in fertility of the host population and the sending country. In almost all cases fertility has declined. The fertility of most European immigrant populations and of some West Indian and non-Muslim Asian populations has declined to a period level at or below that of the host society. Muslim populations from Turkey, North Africa and South Asia have shown the least decline. Intermarriage is proceeding faster than might be expected in immigrant populations which seemed in economic terms to be imperfectly integrated. Up to 40% of West Indians born in the UK, for example, appear to have white partners as do high proportions of young Maghrebians in France.

PIP: Postwar immigration in Western Europe is examined from the standpoint of integration and assimilation. Some immigrant populations have experienced fertility decline due to delays in marriage and rising levels of intermarriage, and some immigrant groups are isolated regardless of the host country's integration policy. Isolated groups tend to be of Turkish, Moroccan, Muslim, and Caribbean background. The impact of integration policies is difficult to ascertain since, for example, statistics on immigrants may not include demographic details. Integration is generally assumed to mean open participation of immigrants, foreigners, and minorities in the economic life of the country without restrictions on participation. Integration policies may pertain to housing, education, employment, social welfare, or protection from discrimination or insults and attacks. The degree to which isolation is accounted for varies between countries, either in the adoption of host languages or in retention of the native culture and language. Policies differ in their conceptualization of assimilation. Immigration is concealed when naturalization statistics are used due to intermarriage. Ethnic minority status reveals origins better, but a mixed ethnic population is difficult to assign to one ethnic group. Some of the models of ethnic or minority fertility are inadequate. Forecasting immigrant's behavior is complicated by a variety of attitudes and the interactions within the host country. The assumption is that European immigrants with similar but more backward demographic backgrounds will converge with European norms faster than non-European immigrants who are expected to have a more gradual and varied demographic transition. Adoption of fertility norms assumes some socioeconomic integration and changing cultural values. The data of specific immigrant populations indicate a rapid absorption of European immigrants and large differences between Third World populations (Caribbean, non-Muslim Asian, and Muslims). Integration depends upon whether the population is immigrant or first generation.