Highfertility

Highfertility refers to demographic conditions in which the fertility rate of a population is high relative to replacement level. In demography, fertility is commonly measured by the total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime given current age-specific birth rates. A replacement-level TFR is about 2.1 children per woman in most settings; rates substantially above this indicate high fertility.

Highfertility is driven by a combination of biological fecundity and social factors. It correlates with limited access to voluntary family planning, lower female education, early marriage, high infant and child mortality, cultural norms that favor larger families, and economic structures that reduce the opportunity costs of childbearing. Rural residence and poverty also contribute.

Demographic effects include a youthful age structure, rapid population growth, and potential strain on education, healthcare, and employment systems. In the short term, high fertility can accelerate dependency ratios; in the long term, if accompanied by development and investment, it can influence economic outcomes through a demographic dividend when a large working-age cohort arises. The global pattern shows substantial declines in many regions but persistent high fertility in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and in some communities in Asia and Latin America.

Policy responses focus on expanding access to contraception and reproductive-health services, improving female education and economic opportunities, delaying marriage, and ensuring child survival to influence fertility preferences. Data quality and political will affect outcomes. See also fertility rate, demographic transition, and population growth.