Global Fertility Rates Continue to Decline, World Bank Data Shows
August 12, 2025 — Fertility rates have been steadily decreasing across the globe for decades, according to the latest data from the World Bank. The trend, observed since the 1960s, shows that nearly every region has experienced a significant drop in the average number of births per woman, reshaping global demographics and posing new social and economic challenges.
In East Asia and the Pacific, fertility has fallen dramatically from around six births per woman in the early 1960s to just 1.3 today — well below the replacement level of 2.1. Europe and Central Asia follow a similar low-fertility pattern, averaging 1.6 births per woman. North America’s rate has also settled at 1.6, reflecting delayed childbearing, smaller family sizes, and shifting societal norms.
Latin America and the Caribbean have seen fertility rates drop from over five births per woman in the 1960s to 1.8 today. South Asia’s rate has been cut by more than half, now at two births per woman, while the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region stands at 3, down from nearly seven six decades ago.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the only region with a relatively high fertility rate at 4.3, although it too has seen a gradual decline from past decades. Globally, the fertility rate has fallen from over five in the 1960s to 2.2 today, edging closer to the replacement threshold.
Experts point to improved access to education, healthcare, and family planning as key drivers of the decline. Urbanization, economic pressures, and evolving gender roles have also contributed to smaller family sizes.
While lower fertility can ease population pressures in some regions, it also brings challenges such as aging populations, shrinking workforces, and potential economic slowdowns — making the trend a critical factor in future global policy planning.
