Fertility is declining around the world and is now below the level needed to replace the previous generation in countries ranging from China to India to Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S. For now, the global average fertility rate, while falling, is above the “replacement rate” needed to prevent the world population from contracting. Still, policy-makers are increasingly worried by this trend, since sub-replacement fertility will result in population ageing and decline in many countries if not offset by other factors, such as increased immigration.
Many countries have decided to take matters into their own hands and, to support families, implement fertility initiatives intended to increase fertility and social spending. With the United States’ fertility now below replacement level and new CDC numbers showing births falling again in 2022, some U.S. policy-makers seem interested in following suit.
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