While Bolivian women have over three children during their life, Chilean women have less than two. Statistics estimate fertility rates in Chile to hit 1.8, the lowest in South America. This is under the minimum (2.1) required for population growth.
According to the report, made by the Organización Panamericana de la Salud (Panamerican Health Organization, or OPS), all south American countries have registered a decrease in this domain since the 1970s.
In Chile, the highest rate was reached in the 60s, with an average of five children per woman. By the end of that decade, however, a drop began that eventually came to a low point in 1999, when most Chilean women started having only one child.
This feature will probably be permanent, explains Juan Carlos Oyanedel, sociologist of the Andrés Bello university.
“There may be temporary increases, but the rate won’t substantially change,” he reports.
This problem, existing elsewhere in the western world, is called “demographic transition”. Simply put, it refers to higher life expectancy and less births. It is mostly due to development and better life conditions, but prevents population expansion and workforce growth.(JP)
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