Population Reports' Q&As

New Survey Findings: The Reproductive Revolution Continues

Child Survival and Health

Is there a link between child survival rates and fertility levels?

Yes. A study of 23 sub-Saharan African countries concluded that difference in child survival rates accounted for much of the differences in fertility rates among countries in the 1980s and 1990s. A leading reason is that, when many of their children die as infants or in the first few years, couples have strong motivation to have many children to insure that some will survive to adulthood.

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