The purpose of this article is to describe family dynamics in 1970-1996 in the five Baltic Sea countries of Sweden. Finland. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In addition. France. Italy, and Poland will be included in the examination as countries of comparison representing Western. Southern, and Eastern Europe. The development which has occurred in the family formation, childbirth, and dissolution of families in the Baltic Sea countries will be examined using available statistical and research data. They will be used to discuss whether family dynamics in the Baltic Sea area reflects pan-European development and how family formation in the Baltic countries has been affected by earlier cultural and religious traditions, in addition to the impact of the Soviet system.
It has been noted that, in some respects, family formation development in the Baltic Sea countries in 1970-96, concerning the development of the marriage rate, for example, has reflected pan-European development. The countries in this group are. however, quite heterogeneous in regard to their family formation development. Sweden has been a pioneer in change and Finland has usually followed behind somewhat later. In the family formation of the Baltic countries, and above all. in the age at first marriage and the age at first birth, there is clear evidence of the influence of the Soviet system. Nevertheless, there are also features of their family formation which come close to development in Western Europe more than in Eastern European countries, in general. For example, the increasing prevalence in Estonia of extramarital births is most likely a manifestation of the impact of cultural traditions. Traditions apparently have also quickened the unusually rapid change in family formation occurring in the Baltic countries after the collapse of the Soviet system.
Real income and population prospects in the Baltic Sea Area
