Alarm over S. Korea's low birth rate

Straits Times ^ | By Caroline Gluck

[Torie]

Yes, the US is one developed nation that has above replacement rate fertility. It is at 2.11. What is the other developed nation which has the highest fertility rate by far? LOL.

[Torie]

You are sort of onto something here, but don't quite yet have it yet.

[Torie]

I don't think that is it? In fact, I know it isn't given the state of the teeth.

[Torie]

I should add that most don't consider "Albania" a developed country. When its largest industry is other than ponzi schemes, it might begin to move in that direction.

[Tax-chick]

Phooey on economics! The extra tax credit won't go to waste, but we, and every other family I can think of, will continue having children because we want them, not because anyone is paying.

[Tax-chick]

Siberia!

[Torie]

You seem to equate low fertility with cold weather. One would think it is the opposite (all that time under the covers), but maybe you have a point.

[Tax-chick]

Northern countries do have lower birthrates, cause unknown to me, although I personally don't like to get out of all my warm clothes in the winter!

I'm having trouble thinking of something that's not a country.

Tasmania?

[Torie]

Actually, the place in question with the lowest fertility rate in the world is quite warm.

[Tax-chick]

Define a developed country? China?

And is the lowest birthrate Mongolia?

So much for my Jeopardy championship, jeez! And I've had to split the last bottle of wine with the Dad of 'em All, so I won't be getting any smarter as the evening wears on :-).

[Torie]

I will reveal all tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.

[Torie]

Developed countries are in Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, NZ, Israel, and Japan, and actually that one place that is not a country with the lowest fertility rate on the planet.

[Tax-chick]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over this, I promise! We were up half of last night with the tornado warnings.

Madagascar?

[Torie]

You think a black African nation has the lowest fertility rate on the planet?

[Tax-chick]

No, I just thought maybe it wasn't a country! Monaco? My husband says that's not a country, but I say it is. You're affecting the birthrate of Oklahoma by causing a conflict here!

Is Israel the other "developed nation," the birthrate of Palestinians and Orthodox Jews overriding the abortion rate of the secularists?

[Tax-chick]

Cyprus? We're going to bed as soon as Iron Chef is over!

[Under the Radar]

Great thread! This is very interesting! :-)

[cookcounty]

I win!!!

Highest birthrate in a developed country is Israel....When I visited with my four kids, they said we had a small family!

[cookcounty]

The bad news for the Israelis is that the Palestinian women average over 6 children per child-bearing female......Happy Mother's Day!

[Torie]

Yes, Israel has the highest developed nation fertility rate by far, at 2.7. Monaco is a great guess, but wrong. It IS a country, but not the on UN list. Maybe countries with a population of 20,000 don't count. The place with the lowest fertility is not a country, but has certain autonomous features.