Definition: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2012
See also: Total fertility rate mapRelated News
World Population 9.6 Billion By 2050
Medical News Today - 6/15/2013 6:53:11 AM
The data come from a comprehensive analysis of demographic information from 233 countries around the world. The projected total ... regarding fertility levels. In several sub-Saharan African countries with extremely high-fertility rates, the ...
Asia's low fertility rate opens opportunities in IVF market
FOX News - 6/14/2013 7:37:19 AM
A looming crisis in Asia as women delay giving birth, leading to low fertility rates that have dire implications for economic growth, is opening huge opportunities for the fast-growing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) industry. The successful debut ...
Invest in Fertility Decline to Boost Development in Pakistan
The World Bank Group - 6/14/2013 6:11:25 AM
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world. At current population planning efforts, it is expected to be 342 million by 2050. Fertility rates remain well above most other countries in South Asia. There is great demand for ...
India will be world's largest country by 2028
Rediff - 6/14/2013 7:15:50 AM
The current world population of 7.2 billion is projected ... care and support for a rapidly aging population. Overall, life expectancy is projected to increase in developed and developing countries in future years. At the global level, it is projected ...
India to be world’s most populous country by 2028: UN
The Daily Star - 6/14/2013 9:49:09 PM
India looks set to overtake China as the world’s most populous country from 2028 ... increase in its projection for total global population in 2050 is largely new information on fertility levels in certain high birth rate countries.
World population set to soar
Japan Times - 6/15/2013 3:28:34 PM
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations forecast Thursday that the world’s population will increase from 7.2 billion today to 8.1 billion in 2025, with most growth in developing countries and more than half in Africa. By 2050, the figure will ...
Bangladesh now a low fertility country
The Daily Star - 6/19/2013 4:25:16 AM
Outgoing UNFPA representative Arthur Erken commended Bangladesh’s achievement in reducing population growth through a proactive family planning programme focused on grassroots levels. The pro-poor family planning programme had made Bangladesh “a low ...
The UN Forecasts Population of India to Surpass China by 2028
daynews.com - 6/17/2013 1:45:59 PM
A United Nations forecast released on Thursday predicted an increase in the world population to 8.1 billion in 2025 and 9.6 billion in 2050 from 7.2 billion today. Most of the population growth is expected in developing countries, particularly in Africa ...
United Nations: World Population to Hit 11bn by End of Century
International Business Times - 6/13/2013 3:09:28 PM
The world population will reach 11 billion by the end of the century - 800 million more people than previous estimates had forecast. A report by the United Nations said the figure was adjusted because fertility rates in Africa had not fallen as ...
UN: India to be world's most populous country by 2028
ModernGhana - 6/14/2013 8:30:24 PM
That is a faster rate of growth than previously estimated. The population growth will be mainly in developing countries, particularly in Africa, the UN says. The world's 49 least developed countries are projected to double in size from around 900 million ...
Fertility in Africa could push world population over 11 billion
News.Mongabay - 6/13/2013 5:18:19 PM
The global population could grow by another 4 billion people by the end of the century if fertility rates in Africa don't decline ... Population declines are also expected in some European countries. "These new findings show that we need to renew policies ...
U.N.: Global population to reach 8.1 billion by 2025
Dubuque Telegraph Herald - 6/14/2013 9:46:10 AM
leading to a reduction in population growth rates in much of the developing world. In contrast, many European and eastern Asia countries have very low fertility levels. "As a result, these populations are aging rapidly and face challenges in providing care ...
World population likely to touch 9.6 Billion by 2050: UN
Mid Day.com - 6/14/2013 6:47:12 AM
The report, 'World Population Prospects: the 2012 Revision', notes that the population of developed regions will remain largely unchanged at around 1.3 billion from now until 2050. In contrast, the 49 least developed countries are projected to double in ...
Asia's low fertility trap opens opportunities in IVF market
Yahoo! News - 6/13/2013 8:57:14 AM
To avoid the trap, some countries have introduced financial support for infertility treatment, including South Korea, which has a fertility rate of 1.4 according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures. Singapore, which has a fertility rate ...
