Fertility and Population in Developing Countries

This article examines fertility patterns in developing countries, and their relationship to population health. The author examines three regions of the developing world using the theoretical framework of the demographic transition, comparing the experiences in China, India, and sub-Saharan Africa. The author then examines issues related to their unique population patterns, such as China and India's high sex ratios, and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the African age distribution. The author concludes with a discussion of challenges related to these population patterns, including impending problems in China's marriage market, trends in sex work, patterns in breastfeeding, social unrest, and patterns in suicide.