Question

Net reproduction rate is defined as which of the following?

• A. Number of live births per 1000 mid-year population
• B. Number of live births per 1000 women of child bearing age
• C. Number of daughters a newborn girl will have during her life time
• D. None of the above

Hint:

It is the fertility index that uniquely accounts for mortality.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Net reproduction rate (NRR) is defined as the number of daughters a newborn girl will bear during her lifetime, assuming fixed age-specific fertility and mortality rates. So option c is correct.

Step 2: The key feature of NRR is that it is the only fertility-related statistic that also takes mortality rates into account. It therefore measures effective replacement of mothers by daughters.

Step 3: An NRR of 1 means each woman is replaced by exactly one daughter, which corresponds approximately to the two-child norm. This goal can be reached only if at least about 60% of eligible couples are effectively practising family planning.

Step 4: Option a describes the crude birth rate (births per 1000 mid-year population) and option b describes the general fertility rate (births per 1000 women of child bearing age). Neither defines NRR, so they are wrong.