What is a key factor that affects fertility rates?

Access to contraceptive methods significantly influences fertility rates. When individuals have easy access to various contraceptive options, they can make informed decisions about family planning and reproduction. This allows couples to better control the timing and number of children they have, effectively lowering fertility rates in populations where such resources are available.

For instance, in countries where contraceptives are widely accessible and education about their use is prevalent, fertility rates tend to decline as families opt for smaller family sizes, often for economic or personal reasons. This is in contrast to regions with limited access to such methods, where unintended pregnancies may lead to higher fertility rates due to a lack of reproductive autonomy.