Global fertility rates to plunge in decades ahead, new report says

A new study predicts a significant decline in global fertility rates throughout the century, leading to a major demographic shift. The study, based on a research effort by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, reveals that the average number of children born to a woman will drop from 2.23 in 2021 to 1.59 by 2100. Factors contributing to this decline include increased opportunities for women in education and employment, better access to contraception, and changing values on gender equality. The study suggests that almost all countries’ populations will decline by the end of the century. Low-income regions will account for a larger share of live births, while high-income countries will face aging populations and labor shortages.