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
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 ... long association with local doctors, pointing to some of the challenges facing companies like Virtus as they eye regional opportunities for the first ...
Invest in Fertility Decline to Boost Development in Pakistan
The World Bank Group - 6/14/2013 6:11:25 AM
Reducing fertility rates will also result in an increase in girls’ education. Girls are more likely to go to school if there are fewer children in the family in Pakistan. Educated women furthermore have much lower fertility rates than less ...
India will be world's largest country by 2028
Rediff - 6/14/2013 7:15:50 AM
"Although population growth has slowed for the world as a whole, this report reminds us that some developing countries, especially in Africa ... Wilmoth added that changes in fertility rates over the next few decades could have major consequence for ...
India to be world’s most populous country by 2028
Updated News - 6/14/2013 2:25:20 PM
India looks set to overtake China as the world’s most populous country from 2028 ... 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
The previous projection had the global population reaching 9.3 billion people in 2050. John Wilmoth, director of the population division in the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said the projected population increase will pose ...
India to be world’s most populous country by 2028: UN
The Daily Star - 6/14/2013 9:49:09 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 ...
UN: World population to reach 8.1 billion in 2025
San Francisco Gate - 6/13/2013 4:56:51 PM
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — 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, it will reach 9.6 billion.
The Dangers of a Changing World
CNS News - 6/18/2013 9:01:27 PM
Lately the media has been trumpeting the dismal fertility rate in America and the world. Many nations have fallen below the rate of birth to sustain the native population and America is dangerously close to that predicament and some have literally reached ...
Fertility in Africa could push world population over 11 billion
News.Mongabay - 6/13/2013 5:18:19 PM
Population changes in millions. Map by: UW Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences. (05/27/2013) A new consensus statement by 520 scientists from around the world warns that global environmental harm is putting at risk the happiness and ...
UN: India to be world's most populous country by 2028
ModernGhana - 6/14/2013 8:30:24 PM
India looks set to overtake China as the world's most populous country from 2028 ... the increase in its projection is largely new information on fertility levels in certain high birth rate countries. Large developing countries, such as China, India ...
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 ...
UN: World population to hit 8.1B in 2025
Global Nation - 6/14/2013 11:58:00 PM
In fact, the UN revised its population projection upward since its last report two years ago, mostly due to higher fertility projections in the countries with the most children per women. The previous projection had the global population reaching 9.3 ...
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 ...
U.N.: Global population to reach 8.1 billion by 2025
Dubuque Telegraph Herald - 6/14/2013 9:46:10 AM
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, it will reach 9.6 billion.
