Behind the Numbers: The PRB blog on population, health, and the environment

Author Archive

Equatorial Guinea’s First DHS Survey; Suriname Family Planning Use

Thursday, April 18th, 2013 Posted in Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer EQUATORIAL GUINEA. The 2011 Equatorial Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) summary report has measured a relatively high level of fertility. The total fertility rate (TFR, ... Read more..

What Countries Are NOT Headed for Two Children per Woman?

Monday, April 8th, 2013 Posted in Population Basics, Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer In a population projection, it’s customary to assume that all countries with higher birth rates will see their total fertility rate (TFR, or the average number ... Read more..

Why Has the U.S. Birth Rate Recently Declined?

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 Posted in Race Ethnicity, Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer Following up on some recent blogs on the drop in the U.S. birth rate, I thought it would be useful to see which groups have been ... Read more..

Birth Rate Shows Rise in Niger, Steady in Nigeria

Thursday, March 21st, 2013 Posted in Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer NIGER. The 2012 Niger Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) preliminary report shows a continuing high level of fertility. The total fertility rate (TFR, or the average ... Read more..

Population Pyramids in Excel and PowerPoint Are a Snap

Friday, February 8th, 2013 Posted in Aging, Population Basics

by Carl Haub, senior demographer Population pyramids are one of demography’s most useful graphics. And they can be easily prepared in Excel and PowerPoint. Here are some simple instructions and files ... Read more..

Total Fertility Rate Increases in Chad; Child Nutrition Improves Slightly

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 Posted in Health, Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer The 2010 Chad Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey-4,the third survey since 1996, showed a total fertility rate (TFR, the average number of children per woman) of 6.9. ... Read more..

Haiti 2012 DHS: Lower TFR, Higher Contraceptive Prevalence; Infant Mortality Rate Unchanged From Previous Survey

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 Posted in Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer The preliminary results of one part of Haiti’s 2012 Demographic and Health Survey show a continuing but more-rapid decline in the total fertility rate (TFR, the ... Read more..

Quick Takes: Contraceptive Revolution in the Philippines; Natural Increase in Russia

Friday, January 11th, 2013 Posted in Population Basics, Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer Contraceptive Revolution in the Philippines? After a 14-year delay, a bill to subsidize contraceptives to poor women and require sex education in public schools is now ... Read more..

Birth Rates in India Continue to Decline

Friday, January 11th, 2013 Posted in Population Basics

by Carl Haub, senior demographer The crude birth rate (births per 1,000 population) in India has continued its steady march downward, as seen in the 2011 rates reported by the country’s ... Read more..

Reports That the U.S. Birth Rate in 2011 Was the Lowest in History Are, Well, Wrong

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 Posted in Reproductive Health

by Carl Haub, senior demographer Several newspapers, blogs, and websites have proclaimed that the U.S. “birth rate” in 2011 was the lowest since records have been kept. But it wasn’t. The ... Read more..