Expected size of completed family among currently married women 15-44 years of age : United States, 1973

Currently married women aged 40-44, who are near the end of their childbearing period, expect to have an average of 3.3 children. But those aged 20-24, who are beginning their childbearing, expect an average of only 2.3 children. Although the younger women are less sure about their expectations than the older women, the statistics reflect definite age differences in birth expectations. If realized in cactualfertility, Figuree 1 shows that these differences wiIl result in a ignificant decline in completed family size.HRA 77-1250197