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What is Fertility Rate?

The fertility rate is a demographic measure of the population referring to the number of live births in a given area in relation to the total population of the area.

Fact: According to the World Fact Book, Niger has the greatest number of births per woman of childbearing age than any other country in the world averaging an estimated 7.75 children per woman, followed closely by Uganda at 6.77 and Mali at 6.62.

Fact: The average fertility rate of the United States is estimated at 2.02 children per woman of childbearing age.  The United States ranks 125 of 223.

Fact: The countries with the fewest births per woman of childbearing age are Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong all with one or fewer births.

Fact: In terms of forecasting population groups, a birthrate of two translates to a replacement population and stability.  Fewer than two births indicate an older, declining population while a population with more than two births per woman indicates a growing population of younger people.

Fact: The fertility rate of European countries dropped so dramatically over the course of the last decade that France began to offer government incentives to bear children such as three year paid parental leave with job security, subsidized daycare, and stipends for in-home nannies.