fertility
fur-TIL-ih-tee
/fərˈtɪlɪti/
The quality of being fertile; in demography, the ratio of live births to the female population of childbearing age.
In statistical context, refers specifically to actual birth rates rather than biological capacity to reproduce (which is fecundity).
The story behind the word. Traces back to Latin 'ferre', meaning to bear or carry. Something fertile is physically able to bear fruit or children.
Word relationships
- birth rate: 'Birth rate' is births per total population; 'fertility rate' measures births per woman of childbearing age.
- fruitfulness: Literary or agricultural; not used in demographic statistics.
- infertility: The inability to reproduce biologically.
- sterility: Complete absence of reproductive capacity.
Commonly confused with
- fecundity: Fertility measures actual birth outcomes; fecundity measures physical capability to produce offspring.
Word family
- fertile (adjective): Capable of producing offspring or abundant vegetation.
Collocations
- fertility rate
- total fertility
- declining fertility
- fertility transition
Example sentences
- "The total fertility rate in many developed nations has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1." Global demography
- "Declining fertility rates alter the dependency ratio of a nation's workforce." Economic research
Memory hook
FERT (bear/carry) + ILITY = ability to bear offspring. Ability to bear life.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'fecundity' in strict demography—fecundity is potential capacity, fertility is actual birth output.
Fun facts
- South Korea recorded the world's lowest total fertility rate in 2023, dropping to 0.72.
Related words
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