Final answer:
Low fertility countries are expected to experience population declines due to factors like increased access to education and contraception. Urbanization and industrialization tend to reduce family size, which affects population stability. The future fertility is a complex issue tied to multiple socioeconomic factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Future Fertility in Low Fertility Countries
The term future fertility refers to the expected number of children that will be born to women in a specific geographic setting in the future. In low fertility countries like China, Australia, and most of Europe, population declines of approximately 20 percent are anticipated. The United Nations has observed a global fertility rate decrease, with highly industrialized nations witnessing significant drops.
Factors contributing to lower fertility rates include more educational and economic opportunities for women, advances in gender equality, improved knowledge of family planning, and better access to contraception. In countries undergoing industrialization and urbanization, such as Malaysia, a decline in family size generally occurs. However, for a country's population to stabilize, the fertility rate needs to fall below approximately 2.0.
The interplay of fertility rates, urbanization, and industrialization are crucial in understanding the potential future demographics of these nations and in developing strategies to address the implications of changing population dynamics.