A Comparison of Fertility Rates Between China and Niger Essay

A Comparison of Fertility Rates Between China and Niger - Essay Example Flags of China and Niger ‘Total fertility rate’ is the measurement most widely used by demographers to measure fertility (Jones, 2004: 98). It indicates the average number of children that would be born to 1,000 women of childbearing age. China’s current birth rate stands at 1.54 children per woman (CIA World Fact Book, 2011), and is currently 188th out of 230 countries on the CIA’s Total Fertility Rate List (2011). There are cities/ provinces within China such as Hong Kong and Macau that have the current lowest fertility rates in the world at 1.04 and 0.91 children per woman respectively. China’s current population stands at 1.3 billion, but their population growth rate of 0.493%, is amongst the lowest in the world. There are currently only 12.29 births per 1,000 women. China’s fertility rate of below 2 children therefore indicates that its population is falling below replacement level. According to the CIA World Fact Book (2011), Nigerâ€⠄¢s birth rate stands at 7.6 children per woman, which makes it the country with the highest birth rate in the world. Its current fertility rate is 50.54 births per 1,000 of the total population. Niger’s current population stands at 16.5 million, with an annual 3.643% population growth rate. 49.6% of Niger’s total population is below the age of 14.