Final answer:
The statement that Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay have a total fertility rate below the replacement level of 2.1 is true. Fertility rates below this threshold indicate a potential population decline unless compensated by immigration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked whether it is true that Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay have a total fertility rate (TFR) that is below replacement level. The statement is true. A total fertility rate under 2.1 is considered to be below the replacement level, which means that the population of a country is not replacing itself over time without significant immigration. This is because some children will not reach reproductive age or have children of their own, which requires a replacement rate slightly above two to maintain a stable population.
Replacement fertility rate is the fertility rate at which women on average have enough children by the end of their reproductive years to replace themselves and their partner in the population. When a country's TFR drops below 2.1, it indicates an impending population decline, unless offset by immigration. This scenario is typical in countries with higher levels of urbanization and industrialization, which usually result in smaller family sizes and a higher standard of living. As evidenced by the World Development Indicators database from the World Bank and the categorization by the United Nations Population Fund, the countries mentioned have indeed experienced fertility rates below the replacement level.