Question

The total fertility rate is defined as:

• A. The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
• B. The number of live births per thousand persons in unit time.
• C. The number of children a population must produce to replace itself from one generation to the next.
• D. The difference between the birth rate and death rate in a population.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.

The correct option is A.

Explanation of the correct option:

1. During her complete lifetime the average number of children that are born to a woman is called the total fertility rate.
2. It is very important because it determines the population growth rate.
3. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR), sometimes known as the "fertility rate," is the most widely used metric and calculates the average number of children per woman.
4. Currently, the average global fertility rate is just under 2.5 children per woman.

Explanation of the incorrect option:

Option B:

1. In unit time, the number of live births per thousand persons is termed the birth rate.
2. The annual rate of births per 1,000 people is referred to as the human birth rate.
3. For instance, if there are 35 births per 1,000 people each year, the birth rate is 35.
4. In this situation, the rate is 3.5 per 100, or 3.5%, which is a common way to describe this rate.

Option C:

1. From one generation to the next, the number of children that a population must produce to replace itself is referred to as the replacement level.
2. In affluent nations, replacement level fertility is assumed to require 2.1 children on average per woman.

Option D:

1. The natural growth rate of a population is defined as the difference between the birth rate and death rate.
2. The number of live births minus the number of deaths occurring in a year, divided by the midyear population of that year, multiplied by a factor, is known as the rate of natural increase (usually 1,000).
3. The difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate is that it is equal.

Final answer: The total fertility rate is defined as the average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.