Factors affecting fertility

Other population factors (besides fertility), especially mortality rates (infant mortality, life expectancy).

For example, people will have more children if the Infant Mortality is high, to ensure a large family despite child deaths.

• Some societies or traditions demand high fertility rates, as a large family can be a sign of status, power and masculinity. Women can be viewed in an extremely traditional way - as housewives and mothers. (eg: many African cultures)
• Some societies have lower female literacy (eg: Afghan girls are not allowed to attend school) Female literacy is the key in lowering fertility, eg: Western societies have many women that choose to pursue careers over a family.
• Certain religions require certain sexual behaviour or tendencies. (eg: christianity bans sex before marriage; monks have to be completely abstinent, etc...)
  

• Children are either seen as an economic asset or burden, depending on the people. (eg: children are wanted to work the land or take care of the parents in old age in African societies; it is expensive to raise a child in Europe.)
• Women can be offered financial incentives against having children if their employer values them greatly.

• Some governments attempt to change the country's fertility rates by introducing policies that encourage or discourage high fertility rates.
• For example: China's one-child policy.