In a dramatic demographic shift, global fertility rates have plummeted from an average of five children per woman in 1960 to just 2.3 today. This profound transformation, which took centuries to unfold in Europe, has occurred in mere decades across many developing nations.
One striking example is Iran, where fertility rates dropped from six children per woman to three in just ten years. Experts attribute the trend to several factors, including increased women’s empowerment, declining child mortality rates, and the rising economic burden of raising children.
Currently, 80% of the world’s population lives in regions where women have fewer than three children, marking a stark departure from the “baby boom” era.
This shift signals the slowing of the global population explosion, as the world transitions from rapid growth to a potential “population plateau.”
Key Points:
- Global Fertility Decline: Fertility rates have dropped globally from 5 children per woman in 1960 to 2.3 today.
- Rapid Shift in Developing Nations: Countries in the developing world experienced a demographic transformation in just decades, compared to centuries in Europe.
- Case Study – Iran: Iran saw a dramatic decline, with fertility rates falling from 6 to 3 children per woman in just ten years.
- Primary Factors: The decline is attributed to women’s empowerment, improved child survival rates, and the rising financial cost of raising children.
- Global Impact: 80% of the world’s population now lives in countries where women have fewer than 3 children.
- Population Growth Slows: The global trend marks a shift from the post-war “baby boom” era to a stabilization of population growth.
