ABSTRACT
Asia is currently home to some of the highest and lowest fertility rates in the world. Unsurprisingly, the processes which have led to this current heterogeneity are equally diverse. Despite this, some similarities between certain territories exist. This chapter explores the various trajectories seen in fertility decline since 1950. In order to account for the diversity of the continent the chapter uses a novel approach to distinguish ‘types of fertility transition’. The five ‘types’ employed in this chapter are distinguished in terms of two key characteristics: (i) the time of onset of fertility decline (early or late); and (ii) the pace of fertility decline (fast or slow). After considering these different ‘types’ of fertility decline, the chapter concludes with a discussion about possible futures of fertility across the continent.
