Name: Religions and babies
Uploaded: 2012-05-22T15:00:56Z
Duration: 13 min 3 s
Description: Hans Rosling had a question: Do some religions have a higher birth rate than others -- and how does this affect global population growth? Speaking at the TEDxSummit in Doha, Qatar, he graphs data over time and across religions. With his trademark humor and sharp insight, Hans reaches a surprising conclusion on world fertility rates.

Hans Rosling: Religions and babies

Religions and babies

Hans Rosling had a question: Do some religions have a higher birth rate than others -- and how does this affect global population growth? Speaking at the TEDxSummit in Doha, Qatar, he graphs data over time and across religions. With his trademark humor and sharp insight, Hans reaches a surprising conclusion on world fertility rates.

Fertility rates around the world have dropped sharply, reaching an average of about two children per woman, regardless of the dominant religion. Even countries with widely different incomes and faiths, like Bangladesh and Qatar, now share similar birth rates. This global change is driven by factors such as child survival, education for women, and access to family planning. Despite common beliefs, religion plays a minor role compared to these social and economic forces.