ORCID iD
Kathleen Broussard https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6312-7207
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Unrealised fertility – when people fall short of their childbearing goals – is inconsistently defined and measured, leading to wide variation in estimates of its prevalence and implications for health and well-being. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. women aged 40–49, this study compares four potential approaches to measurement, finding prevalence estimates that range from 3.5% to 22.4% across indicators. Multivariable logistic regression models reveal that the social and reproductive health correlates of unrealised fertility also vary according to the selected indicator. Improved measures of unrealised fertility are needed to inform our understanding of fertility barriers, including who is most affected, and policies that support people in achieving their childbearing goals.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026, 2026.
Rights
© The Author(s) 2026 Open Access This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows the sharing, use and adaptation in any medium, provided that the user gives appropriate credit, provides a link to the license, and indicates if changes were made.
APA Citation
Broussard, K. (2026). The meaning and measurement of unrealised fertility: A comparison of measures among women aged 40–49 in the United States. Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1553/p-bcn9-6a59