What would it take to accelerate fertility decline in the least developed countries? (PDF) is the first in a new series of policy briefs from the United Nations Population Division.

The Policy Brief focuses on current fertility levels in the world’s least developed countries – a group of 49 countries designated as such by the United Nations General Assembly. In 31 of them, fertility rates remain above 5 children per woman.

The Policy Brief discusses fertility trends and contraceptive use in the least developed countries based on the most recent data compiled by the Population Division. The Policy Brief asserts that expansion of access to family planning requires government commitment and that strengthening and expanding family planning services require adequate funding and access to supplies. It also emphasizes that investments in family planning are cost-effective because of the strong synergistic effects of longer birth intervals and lower fertility on other development goals.