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Fertility rates across many countries have converged, despite starting from very different levels
Our World in Data ^ | July 15, 2026 | Hannah Ritchie

Posted on 07/18/2026 12:30:18 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

In the thirty years since I was born, fertility rates in my country, the United Kingdom, have not changed much. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.8 births per woman. Thirty years later, it had dropped only slightly, to 1.6 births.

Elsewhere, the change has been much more dramatic; fertility rates have dropped sharply and are now similar to those in the UK.

You can see this in the chart, which shows the change in fertility rates from 1993 (in blue) to 2023 (in red). In Qatar and Iran, rates dropped from almost 4 births per woman to 1.7.

Fertility rates have fallen a lot across Asia and South America, too — Malaysia and Colombia are two examples (my colleague Esteban previously wrote about the latter). This marks a much faster demographic transition than many countries experienced historically.

Convergence isn’t the whole story, though. Here, I’ve picked countries with fertility rates that are similar to the UK’s today. But some have fallen far below these levels: in Chile and Thailand, the fertility rate was 1.2 births per woman in 2023, and may have fallen even further.

(Excerpt) Read more at ourworldindata.org ...


TOPICS: Society
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1 posted on 07/18/2026 12:30:18 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Is it actual fertility or is it willingness to procreate?


2 posted on 07/18/2026 12:31:47 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: Chickensoup

Here this is what I’ve found.

The countries with fertility rates around 1.5–1.7 generally have female literacy above 85–95%, while Afghanistan, Nigeria, and DR Congo have much lower female education levels, which is strongly associated with higher fertility because women tend to marry younger, have children earlier, and have fewer opportunities outside childbearing.


3 posted on 07/18/2026 12:37:02 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

2.2 Fertility Rate in the World
1.2 Fertility Rate in the USA
1.1 Japan, much of Europeans

3.9 Fertility Rate of GAZA Palestinians


4 posted on 07/18/2026 12:42:35 PM PDT by spintreebob (m)
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To: MinorityRepublican

So it is not fertility per se

It is willingness to procreate


5 posted on 07/18/2026 12:44:33 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: MinorityRepublican

The world population has doubled in my lifetime. We don’t need any more people. Government wants more to continue the ponzu scheme of welfare.


6 posted on 07/18/2026 12:54:53 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: MinorityRepublican

Iran is screwed, long term.

Good to hear.


7 posted on 07/18/2026 12:58:37 PM PDT by Paladin2 (YMMV)
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To: MinorityRepublican

But the muslims are having all (close enough …) the births in Europe and the UK.

So they’ve got that going for them…


8 posted on 07/18/2026 1:10:35 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

But the muslims are having all (close enough …) the births in Europe and the UK.

So they’ve got that going for them…


9 posted on 07/18/2026 1:10:35 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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To: Chickensoup

in some situations, it’s likely not willingness, but do as you must, to live.


10 posted on 07/18/2026 1:17:17 PM PDT by b4me (Pray, and let God change you. He knows better than you or anyone else, who He made you to be.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

what about since 2023? some places may have increased again...


11 posted on 07/18/2026 1:18:04 PM PDT by b4me (Pray, and let God change you. He knows better than you or anyone else, who He made you to be.)
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To: b4me
some places may have increased again...

Probably not.

12 posted on 07/18/2026 1:19:24 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Fertility rates Worldwide. Notice how Africa is still expanding its population. My theory is that Socialist Insecurity is why rates are dropping elsewhere.

People use to have kids so that they could take care of the parents in their old age. Now that Governments have taken over that task why have kids now?

In Africa the Governments there are little better than organized crime. The people realize there is no way they can count on them, so they still have kids to take of them when they get old.

13 posted on 07/18/2026 2:08:26 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Funny, I don’t see where any man gave birth.


14 posted on 07/18/2026 2:10:53 PM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: Organic Panic

India Population was 318 Million in 1940
in beginning of 2022 it was 1,396 Million.

That is a growth of Billion people in 82 years!
In a country 1/3rd size of United States.

It is so overcrowded, in Mumbai downtown the side walks have no room for homeless people! India should copy China and limit 1 child per couple until population stabilizes or falls slightly so one can walk on side walks.


15 posted on 07/18/2026 2:17:49 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (Work is best form of worship to Gods.. per Bhagavad at ratio Geeta, the Hindu sacred book. )
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To: MinorityRepublican

When I go to church on Sunday it’s babies and kids galore. I mean all over the place. You can have a much different impression of the fertility rate.


16 posted on 07/18/2026 3:30:59 PM PDT by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
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To: Bobbyvotes

1.9 in India right now so they are already at below replacement rate.


17 posted on 07/18/2026 3:41:23 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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