Fertility and Marriage
Continued high fertility in some countries is the major driver of population growth, while in other countries the decline of fertility to historically low levels propels changes in the age distribution, including the gradual ageing of the human population. Even though the past few decades have witnessed a major reduction in fertility levels worldwide, global and regional data and trends mask widespread diversity. The timing, prevalence and stability of marriages and unions not only shape the reproductive behaviour of women and men, but are also linked to wider social and economic changes such as improvements in women’s educational attainment and labour force participation. The Population Division produces estimates and projections of fertility rates by age for all countries in the world, and prepares analytical studies of fertility levels and trends on a regular basis. The Division also produces estimates, compilations and analyses of patterns in marriage and union formation and dissolution.
Data and facts
-
Women of Reproductive Age Who Are Married or in a Union 2024, Dataset
-
Fertility among very young adolescents, Population Facts No. 2019/1
-
Potential impact of later childbearing on future population, Population Facts No. 2019/5
-
The end of high fertility is near, Population Facts No. 2017/3
-
Government policies to raise or lower the fertility level, Population Facts No. 2017/10
-
Policies to influence fertility and promote work-family balance 2017, Infochart
-
Changing patterns of marriage and unions across the world, Population Facts No. 2016/2
-
Inequality in early childhood survival, Population Facts No. 2015/3
Publications
- Selecting adolescent birth rates for monitoring and reporting on SDGs. Technical paper No. Ãå±±½ûµØDESA/POP/2022/TP/No.4
- World Population Policies 2021: Policies related to fertility
- A sensitivity analysis of the projected median fertility trajectories in the World Population Prospects. Technical Paper No. 2021/01
- World Fertility and Family Planning 2020 Highlights
- World Fertility 2019 Report
- World Fertility 2015 Report
- World Fertility 2015 Highlights