Final answer:
Fertility rates generally decrease as per capita income increases, in line with data from the World Development Indicators database showing lower fertility rates in high-income countries. This trend is consistent with the pattern of industrialization and urbanization leading to smaller family sizes and higher incomes, although exceptions do occur suggesting multiple factors influence fertility.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, fertility rates decrease as per capita income increases. This is supported by demographic trends and data from various countries. In many cases, as countries become more industrialized and urbanized, and as incomes rise, family sizes tend to decrease. The data from the World Bank shows this pattern clearly: high-income nations have lower total fertility rates and slower rates of population growth compared to low-income nations. Additionally, regions that experience the greatest economic benefits and advances also witness the most significant drops in fertility rates. For instance, Hong Kong's dramatic income gains since the 1960s coincided with a sharp reduction in both its birth rate and rate of population growth.
However, the relationship is not entirely straightforward. Some countries have experienced rapid population growth despite increasing per capita GDP, suggesting other factors also play a role in fertility rates and population growth. But as a general principle, the correlation between higher income and lower fertility holds true.