1. FERTILITY

2. Which country has the highest fertility rate and which the lowest?
Burundi 6.33
Singapore 1.09

3. The complexities of population growth
SOCIAL
POLITICAL
CULTURAL
HEALTH
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
STAGE of DEVELOPMENT

4. VARY BETWEEN COUNTRIES VARY SPATIALLY WITHIN COUNTRIES
FERTILITY
Fertility rates are one of the most important elements in population change
Fertility rates:
CHANGE OVER TIME
VARY BETWEEN COUNTRIES
VARY SPATIALLY WITHIN COUNTRIES

5. Change Over Time
Variations in BR less extreme than DR – controlled by economic, social, cultural & political factors
(endogenous /internal factors)
Baby booms
Changing Traditional roles of women
Government policy – post war (Baby Booms)
Anti-natal policies eg. China’s 1 Child Policy (1980s>), Singapore – Stop at 2 campaign 1960s – 1970s, India – You’ve had 2 that will do’ 1970 – 1980s.
Pro-natal policies – UK, Singapore 2000>

6. Vary Between Countries
… especially between countries at different stages of economic development.
LEDCs tend to have high TFR – especially if there is a high dependency on subsistence agriculture, children are perceived to be economic assets (providers), high IMR, form of pension for parents in old age, lack of contraception, strong religious values etc
MEDCs and NICs tend to have low TFRs – industrialisation lowers birth rates as generally family resides in urban area (children become burdens & consumers) etc
Niger BR 55:1000 (TFR 8)
Hong Kong, Japan ,Singapore BR 8:1000

7. Variations between countries

8. Link between education & fertility

9. Factors Affecting Fertility
Demographic factors
Remember 50% of the population biologically incapable of having children (ie
men), so maximum BR can only be 500 per Furthermore, only women
fertile can have children –
UK 60% of female popn, thus reducing ratio to 300 per 1000
Possibly 10% of females of child bearing age may be infertile,
figure reduces to 270 per 1000!
High infant mortality rates (with IMR +100 families tend to have over 10
children to be 95% certain of a surviving son) – eg Sierra Leone, Africa
Low IMR = smaller families
Population momentum - China

10. Factors Affecting Fertility
Economic
Economic asset or economic burden – LEDC/MEDC
(Producers/ consumers) Children as young as 5 in LEDCs will be producers, helping out with farming, fuel/water gathering
MEDC – luxuries and disposable income over children!
Pensions availability in LEDCs – piety / ‘bride price’ in Nigeria – deceased husband, wife no claims or rights to land or possessions. Reliant on sons to look after in old age
MEDCs- financial planning & pension availability commonplace
‘More tickets in the lottery’ idea – larger family greater the chances one child will do well & thus pull the family out of poverty

11. Factors Affecting Fertility
Social & cultural
Role of women & status within society:
Education / Literacy / Status in society – Muslim faith / Access to formal employment (limited = higher chance of large family)
Superstition & Belief – high no. children = greater fertility / virility (African nations)
Ancestry & traditions in Africa – babies required to be named after dead relatives. Childless couples perceived as evil & cursed (Nigeria)
In many cultures females are not desired – women eventually move out to be with husbands family, often taking dowry payments with them (cows/land). Males do the opposite – bring dowries in & therefore families may seek to compensate ‘expensive’ girls with boys
MEDCs – women are liberated, can pursue careers, greater independence = delay to starting family. ‘Fertility window’ thus limited

12. Factors Affecting Fertility
Family planning & Education
LEDCS - Lack of access to contraception & lack of education about effective use of contraception – condoms/pills etc
Religious issues & acceptance of contraception:
Catholicism – Ireland , condoms illegal until early 1990s!
Muslim faith- polygamy (4 wives- out do each other) – status of women also a key issue!
Morman faith – polygamy!
BUT could argue religion NOT a controlling factor (Italy & Spain both Catholic have among the lowest TFR globally)
Men – Stress levels - low libido (sex drive), falling sperm counts (pollution? diets?) Increase in female infertility too!
Education – children go to school they become a cost rather than benefit (initially).
Girls educated to same level as boys – seek to gain employment & this ‘enpowering’ process often leads to reduction in BR as age of marriage rises & women delay child rearing.
Education in rural villages – information on contraception – fall in accidental / unplanned BR

13. Factors Affecting Fertility
Role of Women
Education / careers / delaying of family esp in MEDCs – Australia / UK average age marriage 28-30, start family 2 years later (once 21/22-23)
Hindu culture – tradition for girls to marry at 16 & start family immediately. Greater potential to produce 5/6 children +
Cultures where women have few rights (Afghanistan & Pakistan) higher BR – restricted from leaving the home, unable to access family planning, advice etc

14. Factors Affecting Fertility
Economic development – increase in wealth and development = fall in TFR
NB: Singapore & China

15. Spatial distribution and CBR
Vary Within A Country
Spatial distribution and CBR
Rural / urban emphasis – frequently smaller in urban setting in LEDC & MEDCs
Regional in UK- South coast low – higher % of elderly people.
Age structure important – areas with young populations (UK new towns eg Basingstoke tend to have higher birth rates than those with higher % of retirees/ elderly!)

16. Can Be Influenced By Government Policy
Anti natal policy
China – ‘One Child’ Policy >
Singapore ‘Stop at Two Campaign’ 1969
Pro natal policy – Nazi & Fascist states
Malaysia – 2020 – 50million target
Mongolia – 5 children expected, 7+ = Mother of the Nation award

17. Can Be Influenced By Government Policy

18. Kerala, India – Case Study
Within the next years India’s population will have passed that of China, hitting approx billion people.
This rapid population growth trend has not been replicated across the whole country. Kerala state lies in the south of the country and has been recording a rapid decline in its birth rate for many years now.
Why is this?