ChArtiCle
Latin america’s BiLL of HeaLtH sexual and reproductive health
advaNCes
Fertility rates have fallen by 61% over the last 50 years—
5. 9 children per woman in 1950–1955 to 2. 3 per woman in
2005–2010.
fer Tili Ty ra Tes by CouNTry:
1950–1955
2005–2010
ArgentinA
3. 2
2. 2
boliviA
6. 8
3.0
brAZil
6. 2
1. 7
Chile
5.0
1. 9
ColombiA
2. 3
CostA riCA
2.0
CubA
1. 5
dominiCAn republiC
2. 5
guAtemAlA
hAiti
mexiCo
peru
veneZuelA
2.0
2. 4
2. 4
4. 2
3. 7
3. 2
6. 8
6. 7
7. 6
7.0
6. 3
6. 7
6. 8
6. 5
source: Un Population Division, “World Population Prospects: the 2006 Revision,” < esa.un.org/unpp>
(Accessed: June 29, 2010).
ChalleNges
these averages mask divergences within countries and the region,
marked by age, education and socioeconomic status.
age
teenage fertility rates have actually increased, while fertility rates in
other age groups have declined.
in 1950–1955: teenage fertility was
10 births per 100 women. by
2005–2010 it was 14 out of 100.
eduCa TioN aNd soCioeCoNomiC s Ta Tus
Fertility rates by age are closely correlated to education.
number of births per 100 women
between the ages of 15–19 by
education.
58.0
46. 1
bolivia 2003
Colombia 2005
dominican republic 2007
haiti 2005–2006
peru 2007–2008
36. 4
36. 6
24. 2
35. 8
27. 3
25. 7
20. 8
14. 2
7. 7
12. 6
11. 3
6. 7
8. 4
no eduCAtion primAry seCondAry or higher
source: MEAs URE Dhs stAtcompiler, < www.statcompiler.com> (Accessed: June 29, 2010).
icons by natasha tibbott
