The world is at a startling demographic milestone. Sometime soon, the global fertility rate will drop below the point needed to keep population constant. It may have already happened.
Fertility is falling almost everywhere, for women across all levels of income, education and labor-force participation. The falling birthrates come with huge implications for the way people live, how economies grow and the standings of the world’s superpowers.
In high-income nations, fertility fell below replacement in the 1970s, and took a leg down during the pandemic. It’s dropping in developing countries, too. India surpassed China as the most populous country last year, yet its fertility is now below replacement.
The world is at a startling demographic milestone.
The baby bust is happening so quickly and so widely that it's taken many by surprise—with huge economic, social and geopolitical consequences. 🔗https://t.co/yrfXwbSpS2 https://t.co/yrfXwbSpS2
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 13, 2024