The big idea: As a country develops economically, two things usually happen:
- Fertility falls — women have fewer children. - Life expectancy rises — people live longer.
The table below shows the pattern: richer, more-developed countries have low fertility and high life expectancy.
| Country | Fertility rate (children per woman) | Life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1.3 | 84 |
| Germany | 1.5 | 81 |
| Brazil | 1.6 | 76 |
| India | 2.0 | 70 |
| Kenya | 3.3 | 67 |
| Niger | 6.8 | 61 |
Key terms
- Fertility rate — the average number of children a woman has.
- Economic development — rising income, education, health and living standards.
- Demographic dividend — the economic boost when a large share of people are of working age (few dependants).
The main reasons
- Female education & jobs — educated women in work tend to delay and have fewer children.
- Lower child mortality — when more children survive, families don't need to have as many.
- Cost of children — in cities, children cost more and work less, so families have fewer.
- Family planning — better access to contraception lets families choose smaller sizes.
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A window of opportunity: When fertility falls, a country can get a demographic dividend: a large working-age population with relatively few dependants (children and elderly).
More workers supporting fewer dependants can boost the economy — if there are enough jobs.
Develop the point: Suggest/Explain needs development — don't just say 'more workers'; say more workers → more output and taxes → economic growth.
How this is tested: Paper 2 Q1/Q4 often opens with a development chart — life expectancy, income or poverty by country. You Identify a value or Estimate a figure off the axis. Read carefully and quote the units.
| Country | Fertility rate (children per woman) | Life expectancy (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1.3 | 84 |
| Germany | 1.5 | 81 |
| Brazil | 1.6 | 76 |
| India | 2.0 | 70 |
| Kenya | 3.3 | 67 |
| Niger | 6.8 | 61 |
IB-style question — read the chart
Using the table above: (a) identify the country with the lowest life expectancy [1]; (b) estimate India's life expectancy [1]; (c) describe the relationship between fertility and life expectancy [2].
How to answer each part
- (a) Identify the lowest. Scan the life-expectancy column — Niger is lowest at 61 years.
- (b) Estimate India. Read India's row → about 70 years.
- (c) Describe the relationship. It is negative/inverse: countries with high fertility (Niger 6.8) have low life expectancy (61), while low-fertility countries (Japan 1.3) have high life expectancy (84).
Final answer
(a) Niger; (b) ≈ 70 years; (c) a negative relationship — higher fertility goes with lower life expectancy.