The total fertility rate in an economy is defined as :

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024: General Studies Official Paper

the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.
the number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population.
the birth rate minus death rate.
the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The Total Fertility Rate is a demographic measure used to estimate the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime, assuming she experiences the current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years (typically ages 15-49). Hence, Statement 4 is correct.
The crude birth rate is the number of live births occurring during a year per 1,000 people in the population at midyear. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.
The number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population: This is not a standard demographic measure. While related to fertility, it does not accurately describe the Total Fertility Rate, which focuses on individual women rather than couples. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.
The birth rate minus death rate: This describes the natural increase rate, which is the difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate. It indicates how fast the population is growing or declining but does not measure fertility specifically.Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect.