Global baby bust? Uneven decline raises concerns for population stability

SHAH ALAM - The world's fertility rate is undergoing a dramatic shift, with a recent Wall Street Journal report highlighting a concerning decline.

From an average of five children per woman in the 1960s, the rate has plummeted to just 2.4 per cent in 2021.

This trend raises concerns that some regions may soon fall below the replacement level, the number of births needed to maintain a stable population.

The report highlighted a worrying pattern: fertility rates may have already dipped below the replacement level in some areas.

This could have significant long-term consequences for global population dynamics.

Online news portal, Times News World delved into the multifaceted reasons behind declining birth rates.

Increased access to education and greater participation of women in the workforce are key factors, leading to more deliberate family planning choices.

"In the pre-modern era, high child mortality rates led women to have more children, often between 4.5 and 7 per woman.

"However, advancements in healthcare and medicine have resulted in more children surviving to adulthood, reducing the perceived need for larger families," the article said.

Financial pressures associated with raising children are also cited as a contributing factor.

Global leaders are increasingly concerned about the potential economic implications of this trend.

A shrinking workforce caused by declining birth rates could pose significant challenges to long-term economic growth.

The report also emphasised the seriousness of the situation, with some estimates suggesting the global replacement rate has fallen below 2.2 per cent.

Developed nations like the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) experienced this decline earlier, with fertility rates dropping below replacement levels as early as the 1970s.

Currently, the US stands at 1.6 per cent, while South Korea has the world's lowest rate at a mere 0.75 per cent.

Contrariwise, nations with the highest fertility rates, such as Niger at 6.8 per cent, Somalia at 6.0 per cent, the Democratic Republic of Congo at 5.8 per cent, Mali at 5.8 per cent, and Chad at 5.6 per cent, highlighted significant disparities in global population dynamics.