WALL CHART ON WORLD FERTILITY PATTERN 1997 ISSUED BY POPULATION DIVISION

Press Release
POP/652

WALL CHART ON WORLD FERTILITY PATTERN 1997 ISSUED BY POPULATION DIVISION

NEW YORK, 3 November (DESA) -- The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has issued a wall chart, as a part of its monitoring activities, entitled World Fertility Patterns 1997, covering 167 countries and areas and more than 90 per cent of the population of the world.

The wall chart depicts in a vivid manner the levels and trends of fertility in terms of total fertility rate, annual percentage change in the level of fertility and the age-specific fertility rates (average number of children a woman will bear in each age group). In addition, the wall chart displays the patterns of fertility and changes therein in the form of graphs for all the subregions of the world. A global map exhibiting the levels of fertility in respective countries of the world is also a part of the wall chart.

The wall chart shows that a significant decline has taken place in the past 20 years in the levels of fertility in all countries of the world, with large regional variations. The greatest decline was observed in Asia, in particular the East Asia subregion, which is in the most advanced stage of demographic transition among the developing regions. The wall chart also provides a graphic picture of the comparison in the fertility levels and trends between the developed and developing regions. Among the African nations, there has been notable decline in fertility in northern Africa. Pockets of high fertility are persisting in eastern, middle and western Africa, although there are indications of the onset of fertility transition in the countries of these subregions. The overall level of fertility is still highest in the African continent.

Adolescent fertility has reached the lowest level in European countries. Adolescent fertility still remain high in the developing countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite a rapid decline in total fertility rates. There has been substantial decline in the fertility levels of women of higher ages (35 to 49 years) in all countries. It is apparent that the pattern of fertility in developing countries is closely resembling that of the developed countries, that is, most of the births are occurring to women 20 to 35 years of age.

- 2 - Press Release POP/652 4 November 1997

It is also noteworthy that fertility levels in developed countries have reached the level well below the replacement level. If that trend continues, it will lead to zero population growth.

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