TOTAL FERTILITY RATE DIFFERS GREATLY AROUND THE WORLD
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FIGURE 5.8 Many populations around the world have total fertility rates at or below the replacement level of 2.1 live births per woman. Many other populations are very close to replacement-level fertility. However, regional population trends in places like sub-Saharan Africa should not distract us from the great variation in trends among individual nations, each with its own specific qualities and needs. This is particularly significant in Africa, where, for example, variation in total fertility rate is higher than in any other major region. (Data from United Nations Human Development Report, 2009)