Fertility Differentials among Muslim and Non-Muslim: A Comparative Study of Asian Countries

Tamal Reja, Giri Institute of Development Studies
Amrapali Mukherjee, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Reproductive Health indicators like fertility and family planning methods are very important for the improvement and maintenance of health for women and children in any society. Where some of the indicators are essential to maintain child health, some of the indicators are helping to maintain maternal health directly and indirectly. The main objective of this paper is to examine the levels, trends, patterns and differentials in fertility and changes in overall fertility and fertility preferences among poor and non-poor in selected Asian countries. Preliminary results suggest that, mean children ever born (CEB) as well as TFR is comparatively higher among Muslims than non-Muslim women except Indonesia. The highest TFR was observed among Muslims in India. Results show a declining fertility trend especially among Muslims in all the three study countries. Comparison between Muslims and non-Muslims indicate that still there is a gap between these two religious groups.