If a country’s total fertility rate (TFR) is measured at 4.0, what does this measurement most likely indicate about the future of the country’s population?

Question

A.
The population likely is declining rapidly.
B.
The population likely is declining slowly.
C.
The population likely is staying constant.
D.
The population likely is growing.

Please select the best answer from the choices provided.

A
B
C

Answer 1

The best answer is:

D. The population likely is growing.

A total fertility rate (TFR) of 4.0 indicates that, on average, a woman is having 4 children over her lifetime, which is generally above the replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population size in the absence of immigration. Therefore, a TFR of 4.0 suggests that the population is likely to grow.