Consider Victorian era Britain, when the average person is much poorer, the air is heavily polluted with coal use, and the medical care is almost non-existant by modern standards. Fertility rate is about 5-6. Then it dropped to around 3 over 100 years and has been on a steady downward trajectory ever since.
This pattern is broadly replicated everywhere that industrializes.
Whatever the cause, it's not due to wealth per capita or personal health. It's probably cultural. Contraceptives / family planning definitely plays a big part too.
This pattern is broadly replicated everywhere that industrializes.
Whatever the cause, it's not due to wealth per capita or personal health. It's probably cultural. Contraceptives / family planning definitely plays a big part too.