Cohort fertility refers to the fertility experience of a specific group of women (a cohort) who share the same birth year or interval. It measures the average number of children born to women in a particular cohort over their reproductive lifespan.
Key Characteristics:
- Age-specific fertility rates: The cohort fertility is calculated by summing the age-specific fertility rates for all ages in the reproductive lifespan. - Period effects: Cohort fertility can be influenced by societal, economic, and cultural factors that prevail during the cohort's reproductive years. - Cohort effects: In addition to period effects, cohorts may also exhibit distinct fertility patterns due to shared experiences or values.
Importance:
- Understanding fertility trends: Cohort fertility helps researchers understand how fertility patterns have changed over time. - Predicting fertility: By studying past cohort fertility trends, demographers can make projections about future fertility rates. - Social policy implications: Cohort fertility data can inform policy decisions related to childcare, education, and healthcare for families.
Calculation:
Cohort fertility is calculated using the following formula:
- Age-specific fertility rate: The average number of children born to women at a specific age - Age-interval length: The number of years between the age categories used in the calculation
Example:
Consider a cohort of women born in 1980. The cohort fertility of this group would be calculated by summing the age-specific fertility rates for women in this cohort from age 15 to age 49. This value represents the average number of children expected to be born to women in this particular cohort over their lifetime.