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Demographic Observatory, 2025. Low fertility in Latin America and the Caribbean: emerging trends and dynamics

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This 2025 edition of the Demographic Observatory offers an in-depth and updated exploration of historical and recent fertility trends in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a special focus on low fertility. Since 2015, the total fertility rate has remained below the replacement level, currently standing at 1.8 children per woman in Latin America and just 1.5 in the Caribbean. Drawing on various demographic sources and backed by the most recent scientific literature, this publication aims to provide information on current fertility levels in the countries and territories of the region, the speed at which fertility is declining, and the determinants of these trends. It also identifies the main regional and socioeconomic inequalities associated with reproductive patterns, as well as the factors underlying the changes seen. The challenges posed by this new scenario are also addressed from a public policy perspective, with an analysis of family programmes and policies implemented in low fertility contexts and the main international and regional regulatory frameworks underpinning them. Annex A1 Estimation of the tempo effect for the countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean This annex includes a folder with the files used to estimate the tempo effect, using R software, and the resulting estimates for the countries and territories of the region presented in chapter III. The zip folder is structured as follows: - Data - Figures - R script All figures in the folder can be replicated using the R script together with the files in the data folder.

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  • -, 2025. "Demographic Observatory, 2025. Low fertility in Latin America and the Caribbean: emerging trends and dynamics," Observatorio Demográfico de América Latina / Demographic Observatory of Latin America 82933, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    • Handle: RePEc:ecr:col044:82933
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