Proximate determinants of fertility in Mongolia: An update using the 2008 reproductive health survey

Abstract

This short paper extends a previous analysis of fertility changes in Mongolia during the 1990s and early 2000s with the latest data from the 2008 Reproductive Health Survey of Mongolia. Since the previous survey conducted in 2003, Mongolia experienced important fertility changes. After having reached its historical nadir in 2005 with 1.95 children per woman, total fertility has been increasing since then and reached 2.69 children per woman in 2009. Applying the classical proximate determinants of fertility framework, this paper contributes to document and understand further the recent fertility increase in the country. The results indicate that the Mongolian women are increasingly controlling their reproduction using modern contraceptives and are becoming fully aware of its benefits.