Question

Why is the replacement rate 2.1 and not 2 (parents get replaced by children)? What are the situations in which the replacement rate can be higher?

Answer 1

The replacement rate is about 2.1 children per woman instead of exactly 2 because not every child survives to adulthood and not everyone has children of their own. Two children would replace the two parents only in an ideal situation. The extra 0.1 accounts for factors such as child mortality, differences in survival rates, and people who do not have children. The replacement rate can be higher than 2.1 in places where child mortality is high, life expectancy is low, or healthcare and living conditions are poor. Thus, the exact replacement rate depends on the survival and mortality conditions of a population.