fertility rate

USAGE SUMMARY

"fertility rate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the average number of children that couples have in a specific population. For example, "The average fertility rate in the United States is 2.02 children per family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fertility rate began declining.

The New York Times

The total fertility rate is contentious.

The Economist

So the dropping fertility rate is bad.

The Guardian - Money

Its fertility rate in 2014 was 2.01.

The Guardian

The replacement fertility rate is 2.1.

The New York Times

The new fertility rate lies between Tanzania and Iraq.

The Economist

In the early 1960's, Europe's fertility rate was 2.6.

The New York Times

The fertility rate has also dropped by 40% since then.

The Guardian

The fertility rate is now just slightly more than two.

The New Yorker

In general, the tempo of fertility is explained by so many indicators like Crude Birth Rate, General Fertility Rate, Age Specific Fertility Rate and Total Fertility Rate (TFR).

Princeton University

I know the global fertility rate has been dropping.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "fertility rate", specify the geographic region or population to which you are referring. This provides necessary context and avoids generalizations.

Common error

Avoid using "fecundity" interchangeably with "fertility". "Fecundity" refers to the potential for reproduction, while "fertility" describes the actual number of live births.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fertility rate" functions as a noun phrase, specifically denoting a demographic statistic. It names a measurable rate that reflects the average number of children born to women in a population during their reproductive years. Ludwig indicates that it's correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fertility rate" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, and it is considered grammatically correct. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is appropriate for use in various contexts, spanning from neutral news reports to formal academic research. The phrase is most frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science". When writing about "fertility rate", it's important to specify the population or region being discussed to provide context. Be careful to differentiate it from "fecundity", which refers to the potential for reproduction rather than actual births.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

birth rate

Focuses specifically on the number of births within a population, rather than the broader factors influencing fertility.

total fertility rate (TFR)

A more precise measurement referring to the average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years.

natality rate

A formal term for birth rate, emphasizing the process of being born.

population growth rate

Refers to the overall increase in population size, which is influenced by fertility, mortality, and migration.

reproductive rate

Emphasizes the capacity of a population to reproduce, encompassing both fertility and survival rates.

childbearing rate

Highlights the rate at which women are having children.

birth statistics

Focuses on numerical data related to births, providing a quantitative perspective on fertility trends.

demographic reproduction

A broader term referring to the process by which a population replaces itself over time.

family size trends

Indicates how the average number of children per family is changing over time.

generational replacement rate

A demographic metric that focuses on whether each generation is producing enough offspring to replace itself.

FAQs

How is "fertility rate" typically measured?

The "fertility rate" is commonly measured as the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she experienced the current age-specific fertility rates throughout her reproductive years.

What factors can influence the "fertility rate" in a population?

Many factors influence the "fertility rate", including access to healthcare, education levels, economic conditions, cultural norms, and government policies related to family planning.

How does the replacement "fertility rate" affect population size?

The replacement "fertility rate", which is roughly 2.1 children per woman, is the rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration. A rate below 2.1 typically leads to population decline over time.

What are some alternatives to using the term "fertility rate" in writing?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "birth rate", "natality rate", or "childbearing rate". The "total fertility rate (TFR)" is a more specific measure.