Pakistan's fertility rate has experienced a significant decline, according to the United Nations' World Fertility Report 2024.
The country's fertility rate, which was recorded at 6 children per woman in 1994, has dropped to 3.6 in 2024, representing a 2.4% decrease over the past three decades.
This decline is part of a global trend of reducing fertility rates, which have been steadily falling across much of the world.
The report highlights that 1.8 billion people, or 22% of the global population, now live in 63 countries and territories that are in the early to middle stages of demographic transition.
These regions are expected to reach low fertility rates after 2054, making the issue of population management increasingly relevant.
Impact of demographic transition
The report underscores the importance of governments, particularly in regions still undergoing demographic transitions, to strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms that protect the rights of girls and women.
This includes enforcing laws to prohibit child marriage and ensuring full and equal access to sexual and reproductive health care, information, and education.
The UN stresses that countries still grappling with high fertility rates must focus on population management to address economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Properly managing population growth is essential for creating healthier, more productive populations, improving living standards, and ensuring a sustainable future.
Global trends in fertility rates
Globally, fertility rates have been on a continuous decline for the past fifty years. The worldwide fertility rate fell from 4.8 births per woman in 1970 to 2.2 in 2024. Women today are having, on average, one fewer child than they were in 1990 when the global fertility rate stood at 3.3.
The UN's unedited report, which has yet to be released, suggests that interventions aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies could significantly reduce birth rates. Such targeted measures would have profound socio-economic benefits, accelerating the decline in birth rates while improving overall health outcomes.
Reducing teenage births could have far-reaching socio-economic benefits, according to the report. Lowering birth rates will allow governments and families to allocate resources more effectively, investing more in the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Moreover, it opens up greater opportunities for young girls and women to pursue education, employment, and other life aspirations by avoiding early pregnancies.
In conclusion, the UN report signals a significant shift in global population trends, and Pakistan is not immune to these changes. The decline in fertility rates could pave the way for better management of resources and improved quality of life, not only for Pakistan but also for the rest of the world. However, it also emphasizes the need for targeted policies and greater access to education and healthcare for women and girls, particularly in regions with high fertility rates, to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future.
