In the 20th century, natalism became a significant political ideology in several European countries, such as France and Germany, which faced declining birth rates following the two World Wars. These countries implemented various policies to encourage families to have more children, such as providing financial incentives and improving access to childcare. Similarly, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, several East Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea, have adopted natalist policies in response to rapidly aging populations and extremely low fertility rates.