Low fertility

Low fertility (defined in this report as total fertility of 2.0 children per woman or less) is fast becoming the norm for many countries in the world and is no longer a predominantly European phenomenon. Countries in parts of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing fertility levels that are below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. Eastern Asia has become a region of especially low fertility, with total fertility of 1.4 children per woman or less in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, Japan, Macao SAR of China, and the Republic of Korea. While 39 of the 70 low-fertility countries in 2005-2010 are in Europe, 16 are in Asia and 12 are in Latin America and the Caribbean (figure I.1). Australia, Canada and Mauritius are the only low-fertility countries in Oceania, Northern America and Africa, respectively.

Related Subject(s): Women and Gender Issues