Declining fertility rates Year Birth rates have fallen so far Country 1980 2011 Australia 1.9 1.9 Austria 6 1 that many countries across Belgium 1.8 1.8 Europe are now poised for Brazil 41 Canada 1.7 Chile 7 1.9 population decline,while China 26 1.6 France 2.0 birth rates in the U.S.are Germany 14 Greece 1.4 barely above replacement. India 47 2.6 Italy 14 Japan Mexico 4 23 Netherlands 8 Contrast this with 1800s, Norway 2.0 Russian Federation 15 when fertility rates in Spain 2 4 Sweden 2.0 Europe and the US ranged Switzerland 6 Turkey 21 from 4-5 lifetime births per UK 1.9 1.9 US 1.8 2.1 woman. Soure:Data from the World Bank (2012). Bhattacharya,Hyde and Tu-HealthEconomics Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu – Health Economics Declining fertility rates Birth rates have fallen so far that many countries across Europe are now poised for population decline, while birth rates in the U.S. are barely above replacement. Contrast this with 1800s, when fertility rates in Europe and the US ranged from 4-5 lifetime births per woman