The Polish government has released a video imploring its citizens to breed like rabbits.

The health ministry of the country, which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, has put out a short advert praising rabbits for producing so many offspring.

The YouTube video shows the rodents munching on lettuce and carrots while a rabbit 'narrator' reveals the secret of their big families - exercise, a healthy diet and little stress.

The YouTube video shows the rodents munching on lettuce and carrots while a rabbit 'narrator' reveals the secret of their big families - exercise, a healthy diet and little stress

It is the latest step by the conservative government in the mostly Catholic country of 38 million to reverse a shrinking population

The brief appearance of a young human couple enjoying a romantic picnic hints that a little romance might help, and a wine glass turned upside down suggests an anti-alcohol message

The brief appearance of a young human couple enjoying a romantic picnic hints that a little romance might help, and a wine glass turned upside down suggests an anti-alcohol message.

Viewers are told: 'If you ever want to be a parent, follow the example of rabbits.'

It is the latest step by the conservative government in the mostly Catholic country of 38 million to reverse a shrinking population.

European Union figures show that Poland's birth rate was 1.32 children per woman in 2015.

Only Portugal had a lower fertility rate, though the figures in Spain and Greece were almost as low as Poland.

The minimum number of births per woman deemed necessary to simply maintain a population is between 2.1 and 2.3.

Almost all Western countries are below this level, including Britain (1.8), the United States (1.9) and Germany (1.4).

Many countries in Asia and Africa, however, have very high birth rates.

The health ministry of the country, which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, has put out a short advert praising rabbits for producing so many offspring

European Union figures show that Poland's birth rate was 1.32 children per woman in 2015. The minimum number of births per woman deemed necessary to simply maintain a population is between 2.1 and 2.3. Almost all Western countries are below this level, including Britain (1.8), the United States (1.9) and Germany (1.4)

Niger has a birth rate of 7.6 children per woman, while Somalia has 6.5 and Chad has 6.2.

The Polish health ministry said in a statement that it was trying to encourage Poles in their reproductive years - between the ages of 18 and 45 - to adopt a healthy lifestyle that would improve their reproductive health.

It also said it was seeking to raise public awareness of the issue in a way that 'did not offend anyone and was not vulgar.'