Fertility Decline Below Replacement: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Health Implications for Population Well-Being
Fertility decline below replacement refers to a sustained reduction in a population’s total fertility rate (TFR) to below the level needed to replace generations, commonly estimated at about 2.1 births per woman in high-income settings. When fertility falls below replacement, the demographic structure shifts toward an aging population, with fewer births and a higher proportion… Read More »