Fertility rates around the world are declining: Study

BY RICK NOACK(C)2018,THE WASHINGTON POST NOV 09, 2018 - Almost half of all countries have fertility rates below the replacement level, according to an unprecedented study published by The Lancet journal. While there was not a single nation with a fertility rate below the 2.05 threshold back in 1950, the global average is now only 2.4 - down from 4.7 about 70 years ago.

Differences between nations have become more pronounced, with some European countries having record-low rates down to one child per woman on average, compared to more than six children in some African nations.

Alarmed by continuously dropping figures, some EU governments have taken drastic measures. Italy’s Health Ministry launched an ad campaign two years ago to remind people that Sept. 22 was “fertility day.” Other countries have sought to address the issue by focusing on education.

But this week’s study raises serious doubts over the impact of such policies or proposals.