3.7 Total Fertility Rate

Explain factors that affect total fertility rate in human populations.

• Total fertility rate (TFR) is affected by the age at which females have their first child, educational opportunities for females, access to family planning, and government acts and policies.
• If fertility rate is at replacement levels, a population is considered relatively stable.
• Factors associated with infant mortality rates include whether mothers have access to good healthcare and nutrition. Changes in these factors can lead to changes in infant mortality rates over time.
• Enduring understanding EIN-1: Human populations change in reaction to a variety of factors, including social and cultural factors.