I think of Quebec, which in about 10 years (I say this from memory: maybe 1965 - 1975?) went from having the most child-rich culture in the Western Hemisphere to the polar opposite, absolutely killing off their kids all the while bitching about the dwindling of French language and culture and influence in the polity of Canada. Duh.
Spain. Once Christ's Spain. Now, where did I just read it, the highest abortion rate in Europe? Italy. The city of Bologna: sunny, prosperous, lots of flowers, lots of food, wonderful food: the lowest non-plague, non-wartime birthrate in the history of the human race. For every child under the age of 5 in Bologna there are 25 people over the age of 50.
Poland. Poland. Total fertility rate 1.26. What the hell is happening? Matka Boska Częstochowska!
Excuse my ranting. I guess I'm in a mood.
I share your bewilderment.Its way beyond my simple mind.
May God have mercy on us as a human species.