Demographics
Total Fertility Rate
Definition
The average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current birth rates.
Explanation
A fertility rate of 2.1 is the "replacement level" — the rate needed to maintain a stable population without migration. Most developed countries are well below replacement (South Korea is at ~0.7), while sub-Saharan Africa averages over 4.5. Low fertility leads to aging populations, labor shortages, and pension crises.
See Current Data
Explore total fertility rate data for all 218 countries with interactive charts and historical trends.
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