The total fertility rate in an economy is defined as:

(a) the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.

(b) the number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population.

(d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

The correct answer is: (d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

Explanation

(a) the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year:
- This describes the birth rate, not the total fertility rate. The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a given period .
(b) the number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population:
- This is not the definition of the total fertility rate. It might refer to the mean number of children ever born per woman or average family size.
(c) the birth rate minus death rate:
- This describes the rate of natural increase or population index, which is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
(d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age:
- This is the correct definition of the total fertility rate (TFR). It represents the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced the current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years .

Total Fertility Rate (TFR):
- Definition: The TFR is the average number of children a woman would have if she lived through her childbearing years and experienced the current age-specific fertility rates .
- Calculation: It is calculated by summing the age-specific fertility rates over five-year intervals.
- Global Variations: As of 2023, TFR varies widely, from 0.72 in South Korea to 6.73 in Niger.
- Economic Correlation: TFR tends to be inversely correlated with economic development. Developed countries generally have lower fertility rates due to factors like wealth, education, and urbanization, while least developed countries have higher rates due to labor needs, lack of contraceptives, and lower female education and employment.
- Historical Trends: The global TFR has declined rapidly since the 1960s. Projections indicate a transition from long-term growth to decline between 2050 and 2070, with the UN predicting a global TFR of 1.8 by 2100.
- Importance: TFR is a crucial demographic indicator for understanding population growth and its implications on economic and social development .