Abstract
It is frequently assumed by the general public and alsoby some population experts that the value ofreplacement-level fertility is everywhere an averageof 2.1 lifetime births per woman. Nothing could befurther from the truth. The global variation inreplacement fertility is substantial, ranging by almost1.4 live births from less than 2.1 to nearly 3.5. Thisrange is due almost entirely to cross-country differencesin mortality, concentrated in the less developed world.Policy makers need to be sensitive to own-countryreplacement rates. Failure to do so could result infertility levels that are below replacement and lead tolong-run population decline. For example, the currentreplacement total fertility rate for the East Africa regionis 2.94. Lowering fertility to 2.10 would, under currentmortality conditions, result in a regional birthrate 29 percentbelow replacement.
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Espenshade, T.J., Guzman, J.C. & Westoff, C.F. The Surprising Global Variation in Replacement Fertility. Population Research and Policy Review 22, 575–583 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:POPU.0000020882.29684.8e
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:POPU.0000020882.29684.8e