Religion and fertility

The term religion and fertility (or fertility and religion) is used to discuss the broad array of relationships between religion (in terms both of religious beliefs and religiosity) and fertility. The relation could work in any of the three obvious causal directions.

• Major: The effect of religious beliefs and religiosity on fertility. This includes the direct effect, such as the effect on natalist or antinatalist beliefs, and the indirect effect via the effect on other factors that affect fertility.
• The effect of fertility on religious beliefs and religiosity. Religions that offer support systems for families with children may attract more families with children.
• The presence of other factors that affect both religious belief/religiosity and fertility. For instance, high levels of economic development or high rates of urbanization may cause low levels of religiosity and independently cause low levels of fertility.