Low fertility and population ageing
In contrast to the rapid growth rates in some low-income countries, most high-income countries and some large middle-income countries (e.g. China and Brazil) have low fertility and low or negative growth rates.
| TFR | Growth Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.2 | -0.1% |
| Brazil | 1.8 | 0.9% |
| France | 2.1 | 0.5% |
| Italy | 1.4 | 0.4% |
| Japan | 1.4 | -0.1% |
Examples of low fertility, 2012.
Source: US Bureau of the Census, International Database [Accessed 11/03/13]
The majority of the negative consequences associated with low fertility are due to the way low fertility causes a population to age. The next page will explain what population ageing is and why it results from low fertility.