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, 2020
See also: Total fertility rate mapRelated News
Korea Has World's Lowest Fertility Rate
chosun.com - 2/25/2021 12:36:00 AM
Korea's total fertility rate or the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime stands at a mere 0.84, Statistics Korea said Wednesday. That makes Korea the least fertile country among 198 countries around the world,
Fertility Rate of Indians Declines by 2035
Medindia - 2/20/2021 5:09:00 PM
By the year 2035, the fertility rate of Indians may decline to 1.73 from the current 2.37, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Fertility Rate projected to decline from 2.37 to 1.73 by 2035: Harsh Vardhan
Canindia.com - 2/20/2021 4:19:00 PM
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said that the fertility rate of Indians may decline to 1.73 from the current 2.37 by the year 2035.
Korea reports 1st population decline in 2020; total fertility rate hits new record of 0.84
koreatimes.co.kr - 2/24/2021 4:31:00 AM
The country's total fertility rate ― the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime ― hit a new record low of 0.84 in 2020, down from 0.92 the previous year. It marked the third ...
South Korea's fertility rate falls to lowest in the world
Yahoo News - 2/24/2021 8:36:00 AM
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's fertility rate fell ... from the country's previous record low of 0.92 a year earlier, the official annual reading from the Statistics Korea showed. That is the lowest among over 180 member countries of the World Bank ...