What must the total fertility rate be to halt population growth?
a. 1
b. 2.1
c. 2.5
d. 3
e. 4.2
b. 2.1
To halt population growth, the total fertility rate (TFR) should ideally be equal to or slightly below the replacement level fertility rate, which is around 2.1.
So, the correct answer is:
(b) 2.1
To calculate the total fertility rate (TFR) needed to halt population growth, we need to understand what TFR represents. TFR is the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, assuming that the current fertility rates in a given population remain constant.
To halt population growth, the TFR should ideally be equal to the replacement level fertility rate. The replacement level fertility rate is the rate at which each person in a population is replaced by exactly one child. It takes into account factors like infant mortality rates and the proportion of girls who survive to childbearing age.
Based on demographic studies, the replacement level fertility rate is estimated to be around 2.1. Therefore, to halt population growth, the answer would be (b) 2.1.