Global fertility rate falls below replacement level for the first time

For the first time in history, global fertility has dropped below the replacement level, according to the study *Terra Incognita: The Economics of a Shrinking World*. Such a decline was not even observed during wars and pandemics. A long-term decline has been recorded in 219 out of 236 countries. The trend is increasingly affecting low- and middle-income countries. In Thailand, the fertility rate is 0.87 children per woman, in Colombia — 1.01, in Iran — 1.35, and in Brazil — 1.52. A rate of about 2.2 is needed for population replacement.