Below replacement fertility prevails in the developed regions and is expected to continue to 2050.

Fertility is still high in most of the least developed countries and although it is expected to decline, it will remain higher than the rest of the world.

In the rest of the developing countries, fertility has declined markedly since the late 1960’s and is expected to reach below replacement level by 2050 in the majority of these countries.

Fertility is low in most of the least developed countries

In developed countries, replacement level fertility can be taken as an average of 2.1 per woman.

In developed countries, replacement level fertility can be taken as an average of 1.1 per woman.

In countries with high infant mortality rates, however, the average number of births may need to be much higher.

Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from generation to generation.

Improvements in health care, sanitation & diet lead to a drop in infant mortality rate e.g. The Demographic Republic of Congo has a total fertility rate of 6.91 and 0.088 doctors per 1000 people.

Improvements to health care cause more babies to die early.

Higher female literacy rates lead to improved knowledge of birth control, more opportunities for employment and more choice. This may lead to lower fertility rates.

Availability of contraceptives for couples with knowledge and desire to use it e.g. Rwanda, where 10% of women practice modern methods of family planning and where the total fertility rate is 5.12. In Brazil, 70% of women practice modern methods of family planning and the total fertility rate is 2.21.

In some countries, access to healthcare and education may be limited e.g. Afghanistan, total fertility rate of 7.7 with 0.17 doctors per 1000 & a female literacy rate of 13%.

In some countries, the number of children is seen as a sign of virility and wealth.

Women have to stay home and care for children.

Women in some countries are obliged to produce as many children as possible e.g. Nigeria, total fertility rate 4.9.

Islam and the Roman Catholic Church oppose the use of birth control although this influence may lessen with economic development.

In many parts of the world religion/tradition demands high rates of reproduction.

With the prospect of a career, women may have less children and marry later. e.g. the average marital age in the UK is 30.

The time spent in education and the cost of childcare makes it more expensive to have a child. In the UK (TFR 1.66) the estimated cost of raising a child to 21 is £166,000.

Children are seen as economic assets in LEDCs. They can be used as workers on land or to bring in more income.

Reduced access to formal employment and other income earning opportunities means women are forced to devote most of their time and energy to child bearing.

The time spent in education and the cost of childcare makes it cheap to have a child.

Some countries require that no one can reproduce.

Some governments will try to influence the rate of population growth e.g. The Chinese attempting to reduce the birth rate or Japan attempting to increase it.

Reduced infant mortality rate reduces the need for lots of children for security. e.g. Japan’s birth rate of 7.64 with an infant mortality rate of 2.79.

Countries with a large proportion of young people may continue to see a population decrease due to population momentum.

Countries with a small proportion of youth face population decline even if birth rates per woman increase e.g. Japan.

Countries with a large proportion of young people may continue to see a population increase due to population momentum.

High birth rates to compensate a high infant mortality rate e.g. Nigeria with a birth rate of 5.16.