Total fertility refers to the average number of children born to women of childbearing age in a given population. Fecundity, on the other hand, refers to the biological ability of women to bear children.
Total fertility is always less than fecundity because not all women who are biologically capable of bearing children actually do so. Some women may choose not to have children or may have difficulty conceiving. Additionally, other factors such as access to contraception, cultural attitudes towards childbearing, and economic factors may also influence a woman's decision to have children.
Therefore, while fecundity represents the maximum potential for childbearing in a population, total fertility reflects the actual number of children being born within a specific time frame, taking into account factors that influence reproductive decisions.