Brian Jenkins

For a third year in a row Canada's fertility rate has dropped.

Statistics Canada reports that the national average has gone from 1.68 to 1.61 over the three year beginning in 2008.

I reproduce a copy of the statistics below.

A couple things caught my attention.

1. The stability of the figures. Whether viewed provincially or federally, over the five years of the figures, the percentage difference between high and low figures is under 10% over the indicated years.
2. Below replacement rate. With the exception of one region, the fertility rate falls beneath the generally accepted population replacement level of roughly 2.1 children per woman.

For an accompanying story from Postmedia, click here.