Total Fertility Rate refers to the total number of births given by women in her reproductive age throughout her life. The total fertility rate (TFR) is also known as the fertility rate (FR), period total fertility rate (PTFR) or total period fertility rate (TPFR).

Total fertility rate (TFR) is calculated from age specific fertility rate. Actually, the sum of age specific fertility rate is the total fertility rate. It is the most common and refined form of fertility rate. It is calculated by taking the sum of ASFR and multiplying by 5 and finally dividing the product by 1000 only if the ASFR is calculated in per thousands bases. It is measured per woman. Generally global fertility rates are in decline.

a old aged Nepali woman with green grocery — Nepali woman with greengrocery vegetable

The following formula can be used to calculate TFR.

TFR = (5 x 1121)/1000

Where,

∑ASFR = total sum of age specific fertility rate

TFR = total fertility rate

The given table shows the total fertility rate on the basis of different surveys and researches conducted in different periods of time in Nepal.

Table of total fertility rate Nepal, 1971-2000 AD

S.N.	Sources of data	Year	TFR
1	Census 1971	1971	6.3
2	Nepal Fertility Survey 1976	1975-76	6.3
3	The survey on the use of contraceptive devices, 1981	1980-81	6.3
4	Nepal reproductive family planning survey, 1986	1984-86	5.1
5	Nepal reproductive family planning and health related survey, 1991	1989-91	4.8
6	Nepal family health survey, 1996	1993-95	4.6
7	Nepal demographic and health survey, 2001	1998-2000	4.1
8	Nepal demographic and health survey, 2006	2006	3.1

Source: MOHP, 2007, Nepal Population Report, 2007

For example

Calculate TFR from the following ASFR according to the data of 1991 A.D. in Nepal.

Age	ASFR (per 1000 women)
15-19	95
20-24	286
25-29	272
30-34	212
35-39	151
40-44	77
45-49	28
Total	1121

Here,

∑ASFR = 1121

TFR = (5 x 1121)/1000

= 5.61

= 5.61 children per women

Therefore, a woman gave birth to about 6 children in average, in her reproductive life according to the census 1991.

The total fertility in 2001 AD in Nepal was 4.1 per woman. But it decreased to 3.1 per women according to Nepal Demographic and health survey, 2006. There is a decreasing trend of total fertility rate in Nepal which is good but it is still higher than the world’s average total fertility rate. The world’s average total fertility rate is 2.8 children per woman.