Posted on 12/21/2007 2:26:38 PM PST by Marie2
For the first time in 35 years, the U.S. fertility rate has climbed high enough to sustain a stable population, solidifying the nation's unique status among industrialized countries.
The overall fertility rate increased 2 percent between 2005 and 2006, nudging the average number of babies being born to each woman to 2.1, according to the latest federal statistics. That marks the first time since 1971 that the rate has reached a crucial benchmark of population growth: the ability of each generation to replace itself.
"It's been quite a long time since we've had a rate this high," said Stephanie J. Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics. "It's a milestone."
While the rising fertility rate was unwelcome news to some environmentalists, the "replacement rate" is generally considered desirable by demographers and sociologists because it means a country is producing enough young people to replace and support aging workers without population growth being so high it taxes national resources.
"This is a noteworthy event," said John Bongaarts of the Population Council, a New York-based think tank. "This is a sign of demographic health. Many countries would like to be at this level."
Europe, Japan and other industrialized countries have long had fertility rates far below the replacement level, creating the prospect of labor shortages and loss of cultural identity as the proportion of native-born residents shrinks in relation to immigrant populations.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Praise Chester!
Yes, and even immigrants grow old.
No, we didn't. Read the The Hispanic Challenge By Samuel P. Huntington and let me know where you disagree with the professor.
I'd like to see a source on that comment.
Granted, we do have a problem with illegals in this country, but I think the vast majority of children being born here are from legal citizens.
I still say we are being overrun AND outbred.
The almost simultaneous immigration reform and the legal triumph of Planned Parenthood inspired legal reform resulted in a dearth in the European-American population. The Mexicans et al. have simply moved into the hole. Of previous immigrant groups they are most like the Italian/Sicilians whose pre-1914 out-migration sometimes exceed the in-migration, as they moved back home to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Italy’s liberal government was a sink of incompetence and corruption, which made it much like the present Mexican one.
Most of those children are the children of illegal aliens.
I’d like to see a source on that comment.
Granted, we do have a problem with illegals in this country, but I think the vast majority of children being born here are from legal citizens.
I Hate to say it but I work in a Major Hospital in the North Eastern United States and when you see the numbers of people,Mostly originating from South America who have 2 or 3 children only a year apart in age and their parents don’t speak a word of English you tell me what you would think.
These people are coming here and getting care they are not even paying for the majority of the time and thats a fact.
The people that are paying for it are hose carrying insurance and those paying their taxes.
And for that aggregate fertility rate, what's the composition demographically/ethnically?
Some advancing pronouncedly; Others declining I'd expect.
Northern folks should have 3 or more kids before age 30.
Also, we should enact into law mandatory exile for many criminal cases. And voluntary repatriation incentives in non-criminal cases.
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