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
There will be 9.6 billion people on this planet by 2050, according to the United Nations. In just over the next ten years another 1 billion people will be added to our population. The United Nations report, titled "World Population Prospects ...
Asia's low fertility rate opens opportunities in IVF market
FOX News - 6/14/2013 7:37:19 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 ...
Invest in Fertility Decline to Boost Development in Pakistan
The World Bank Group - 6/14/2013 6:11:25 AM
Fertility rates remain well above most other countries in South Asia. There is great demand for population planning but little access, particularly for the poor. Providing such opportunities is a major route towards poverty reduction ...
UN: India to be world's most populous country by 2028
BBC Online - 6/14/2013 3:58:24 PM
The world's 49 least developed countries are projected to ... in its projection is largely new information on fertility levels in certain high birth rate countries. Nigerian growth Large developing countries, such as China, India and Brazil ...
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 to increase by one million over the next 12 years and reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to a United Nations report that points out that the growth will be mainly in developing countries ...
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 ...
India will be world's most populous by 2028
Rediff - 6/14/2013 7:15:50 AM
Compared to previous assessments of world population trends, the new projected total population is higher, mainly due to new information obtained on fertility levels of certain countries ... changes in fertility rates over the next few decades ...
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 ...
Fertility in Africa could push world population over 11 billion
News.Mongabay - 6/13/2013 5:18:19 PM
Scientists: stop treating population growth as a 'given' and empower women (02/27/2013) Climate change ... according to author of new book The Blueprint: Averting Global Collapse (01/10/2013) Global strategist, trained educator, and ...
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
The report found global fertility rates are falling rapidly ... "The main story is to avoid the extreme of either rapid growth due to high fertility or rapid population aging and potential decline due to very low fertility." Among the fastest-growing ...
UN Report: World population projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050
ModernGhana - 6/17/2013 2:43:15 PM
After that, India's population will continue to grow and China's is expected to start decreasing. Meanwhile, Nigeria's population is expected to surpass that of the United States before 2050. Europe's population is projected to decline by 14 per cent ...
India may overtake China as world's most populous country
PanARMENIAN Network - 6/14/2013 2:32:30 PM
PanARMENIAN.Net - 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.
