Q41 · UPSC Prelims 2024 · Set A · Economy

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The total fertility rate in a economy is defined as :

A the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.
B the number of children born to couple in their lifetime in a given population.
C the birth rate minus death rate.
D the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child- bearing age.

Correct answer: (d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child- bearing age.

Explanation

  1. A

    the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.

    Children per 1,000 people in a year. That is a crude birth rate, not TFR.

  2. B

    the number of children born to couple in their lifetime in a given population.

    Children born to a couple in their lifetime. TFR is per woman, not per couple.

  3. C

    the birth rate minus death rate.

    Birth rate minus death rate. That is natural increase.

  4. D

    the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child- bearing age.

    Average live births a woman would have by the end of child-bearing, given current age-specific rates.

Summary. Official key is (d). Total fertility rate is the average number of live births a woman would have over her reproductive life if current age-specific fertility rates held. It is not CBR, not “per couple”, and not birth minus death.