3.7 - Total Fertility Rate

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

average number of children a woman in a population will bear throughout her lifetime

higher birth rate, higher pop. growth rate (generally)

Higher TFR =

Replacement Level Fertility

The TFR required to offset deaths in a pop. and keep pop. size stable

About 2.1 in developed countries (replace mom & dad)

- Higher than 2.1 in less developed countries due to higher infant mortality

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Number of deaths of children under 1 year per 1,000 people in a pop.

- Higher in less developed countries due to lack of access to: health care, clean water, enough food

- Higher IMR = higher TFR, due to families having replacement children

Factors to IMR decline

1) Access to clean water

2) Access to healthcare (hospitals, vaccines, vitamins & supplements for moms & babies)

3) More reliable food supply

Development (Affluence) Factors that impact TFR

More developed, or wealthy nations have a lower TFR than less

developed nations

1) More educational access for women

2) More economical opportunity for women

3) Higher access to family planning education & contraceptives

4) Later age of first pregnancy

5) Less need for children to provide income through agricultural labor

Government Policy Factors that impact TFR

Gov. Policy: can play a huge role in fertility by coercive (forceful) or non-coercive (encouraging) policies

1) Forced or vol. sterilization

2) China's 1 (now 2) child policy

3) Tax incentives to have fewer children

4) Microcredits or loans to women without children to start businesses

Affluence and TFR

More access to contraceptives & family planning

- Education/economic opportunities require time, leaving less for raising children

Lower Total fertility rate

Lower Infant mortality rate =

Female Education and TFR

- More education = fewer unplanned pregnancies

- More education = more job opportunities for women

• Alternative to marrying young