Global trends in human birth and death seasonality reveal climate-related shifts in reproductive timing.

ABSTRACT: Despite growing evidence that climate change affects public health, it remains unclear whether recent global warming has directly altered fundamental aspects of human biology at large scales. Here, we analyzed long-term trends in human birth and death seasonality, using demographic data from >100 regions worldwide. We found that both births and deaths followed remarkably persistent seasonal cycles. Births peaked through spring to fall, whereas deaths peaked in midwinter, especially among older individuals. Across latitude, death seasonality diminished near the equator; birth seasonality remained strong across all latitudes but peaked progressively later at lower latitudes. Strikingly, birth seasonality in high-latitude regions showed synchronized phase delays in recent decades, with peak t

SUBMITTER: Lalgudi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12871832 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature