Open AccessThe Fertility Decline in India’s Kerala State: A Unique Example of Below Replacement Fertility in a High Fertility Country
Author(s) -
M. V. George
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
canadian studies in population
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.157
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1927-629X
pISSN - 0380-1489
DOI - 10.25336/p6x89j
Subject(s) - fertility , total fertility rate , family planning , developing country , sub replacement fertility , geography , demography , demographic transition , population , economics , economic growth , research methodology , sociology
This paper attempts to fill a gap in an updated study of the rapid fertilitydecline in Kerala, which has evoked world wide interest, using historicaland recent data from direct and indirect sources. The three determinantsof fertility decline – changes in age at marriage; the use of effective family planning methods as a result of the state’s aggressive family planning program; and the unique Kerala characteristics - have contributed to the fall in fertility. Additional insights are provided by comparing this with similar fertility decline in six countries of the region.