Fertility and Birth Rate (Population Studies)

Fertility measured by dividing number of live births by the number of woman in the reproductive range (15-49) * 1 000. This can be called general fertility rate.Total fertility (TFR) is the number of children a woman would have by the end of her childbearing years if she were to pass through those years bearing children at the current observed age-specific rates is measured as followed 5∑age specific fertility rate.

The age specific fertility is the number of births to a certain age group e.g. 20-24.Birth/Crude birth rate is the number of live births per 1 000 people and is measured as live births/ total population * 1 000. Birth rate is determined by fertility trends.

Birth rate plays a significant role in population growth. High population growths are usually attributed to high birth rates

Factors affecting Fertility and Birth rates

Several factors influence the fertility and birth rates of a country. Most high fertility and birth rates are experienced in developing countries such as Niger (TFR 6.49), Mali (6.01), Angola(6.16), China (once, but has decreased due to the One Child Policy), India and many others.

Children can be reproduced at early ages such as 14 years. If babies are produced at this tender age, how many babies will that person conceive in the future?. In Niger, 75% of girls are married and 51% have a child. High fertility rates causes a population increase which can strain the resources of a country.

Literacy

Birth rates are high in rural areas than in urban areas particularly because of literacy. An educated person is very likely to produce few off-springs than an uneducated person. Family planning which involves the use of condoms, abstinence, pills, penis withdrawal is very low in rural areas.

Limited educational facilities and campaigns means that people lack the knowledge and know how of how to use such methods.

With the majority of rural people out of school and unemployed, the option will be to have more babies that will care for the parents in the future.

This is a perception that most people have.

In contrast, MEDCs have high literacy rates and as such people have careers to pursue than having large families. In addition, high usage of family planning methods and homosexuality in these countries reduces birth rate

Traditional beliefs and religion

Traditional beliefs of people determine the amount of children that will be produced. Some religions support large families for religious purposes e.g. Apostles and such religions also advocate for early marriages which increases birth rates.

Moreover, these types of religions restrict the use of family planning methods such as condom use. According to MICS 2014 survey Apostles had the lowest use of contraceptions (62%) in Zimbabwe

Labour

Most rural people will want to have more children for labour in the fields. It’s a different story in MEDCs were children are seen as expenses.

Endemics and Diseases

Endemic outbreaks such as the Ebola virus and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, typhoid and others causes high mortality rates. As such people will want to produce more children to secure their future.

Wars and Famines

Similar to diseases, wars and famines such as 1958-1961 Great Chinese Famine results in substantial lose of lives and many people will produce more for replacement and secure their generation survivability.

Age structure

Developing countries have a higher proportion of youths, thus birth rates tend to be high than in MEDCs which, in contrast, have a higher ageing population.

Political reasons

Governments may restrict (e.g. China One Child Policy) or promote high birth rates. Under Chairman Mao Zedong who advocated for more children for development, China rapidly increased its birth rates.

Conclusions

Birth rates have started to decline worldwide in recent years than in the past especially in LEDCs. For example, Zimbabwe has seen a drop in TFR from 1988 (5.4) to 2015 (4.0) and is still decreasing.

The increase in family planning methods, awareness and educational facilities in, not just urban areas, but rural areas too have significantly dropped birth rates.

In China, through the One Child Policy introduced in 1979, birth rates have significantly.

Although many countries are striving to reduce birth rates some are trying to increase it. MEDCs such as Singapore and Japan have a low birth and the replacement level is below the recommended 2.1.

These countries often experiences a reduced number of youths and higher proportion of elderly people. As such, these countries have a low working population which impacts the economy. Read Causes and Problems of an Ageing Population