The change of fertility patterns in rural and urban China, 1970-1989
Li, W.; Liang, Z.
China Population Today 10(5): 13-15
1993
PMID: 12319407 Document Number: 336372
The patterns of urban and rural fertility in China are described for the period 1970-89. Key features are the changes in childbearing age and in age specific fertility rates. Data in this analysis are based on the 1988 Two per Thousand Survey of Fertility and Contraception and the 1990 Census. The most rapid decline in fertility occurred during the 1970s. The total fertility rate (TFR) declined from 5.23 in 1970 to 2.901 in 1989 in urban areas and from 5.69 to 2.56 in rural areas. TFR of first parity births (TFR1) ranged from 1.42 to 0.75 in urban areas and 1.45 to 0.77 in rural areas. During the 1970s, TFR1 was lower than 1.0, which is attributed to the family planning program and deferred marriage and childbearing. The rise during the 1980s is attributed to the decline in the legal age at marriage and the accumulated births deferred from the 1970s. Second parity births (TFR2) increased. A rapid decline occurred in third and high parity births (TFR3) from 2.93 in 1970-74 to 0.44 during 1985-89 in urban areas and from 3.36 to 0.63 in rural areas. The proportion of TFR3 out of TFR declined from 61.0 to 19.2% in urban areas and from 63.6 to 23.6% in rural areas. The mean age of childbearing decreased from 28.9 years during the 1970s to 26.4 years during the 1980s in urban areas; the decline in rural areas was from 29.0 to 26.5 years. The average age of TFR1 increased in urban areas from 23.5 to 23.9 years; the age of TFR2 increased from 26.0 to 26.7 years. TFR3 increased from 28.8 to 29.2 years. The curve of average childbearing age at first parity varies between urban and rural areas, which experienced a 0.5 year lower age and a decline in average age of TFR1. Changes in age specific fertility show a declining peak between 1971 and 1989. Fertility changes are due to awareness of family planning, socioeconomic development, and increased contraceptive prevalence.