| Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Population and Migration, Issue: Fertility rate |
Context: Falling fertility rates in various countries below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman.
Reasons for declining birth rates:
- Significant shift in cultural attitudes towards family size and child-rearing responsibilities.
- Social shifts, like more opportunities for women in education and careers, declining marriage rates, and the high cost of raising children, are driving down birth rates.
- Many women delay marriage and childbirth to pursue personal and professional goals.
- Stricter family planning measures.
Impact:
- Low birth rates contribute to an aging population, creating economic challenges like higher healthcare costs and a shrinking workforce.
- Governments invest in incentivizing childbirth, but the impact remains uncertain.
Prelims Connect:(Terms in news):
| Total Fertility Rate:
● It is a measure used to estimate the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime based on current age-specific fertility rates. ● Replacement level fertility: This is the rate needed to maintain a stable population size over time, accounting for mortality rates and other factors. ● Typically considered to be around 2.1 children per woman. ● A TFR below 2.1 indicates that the population is not replacing itself, leading to population decline in the long term. Conversely, a TFR above 2.1 suggests population growth. |
