ABSTRACT
Fertility as a component of population dynamics holds a very important place in any population study. This chapter is devoted to this component of population change. Beginning with an elaborate discussion on techniques and measure of fertility analysis, the chapter discusses levels, trends and patterns in fertility in the world. Data are drawn from Population Reference Bureau (PRB) 2017. Factors underlying long-term decline in fertility in the developed world and current fertility transition in the less developed parts of the world get due space in the chapter. Similarly, drawing estimates/data from varied sources, trends in fertility in India since the beginning of the last century have been sketched. Using state-level data from SRS for various years, interstate variation in the pace of fertility transition has been attempted. Fertility differentials across different social economic groups based on NFHS-4 data are analysed. Finally spatial patterns in crude birth rate using district-level estimates based on reverse survival method are presented.
