Total Fertility Rate (TFR): It represents the average number of children a woman would have if she were to pass through her reproductive years (15-45 years) bearing children at the same rates as the woman now in each age group. It is computed by summing the age specific rates for all ages. If 5 years age groups (intervals) are used, the sum of the rates is multiplied by 5. This measure gives the approximate magnitude of completed family size. In India TFR in the year 2003 is estimated to be 2.8, i.e., on an average one woman gives 2.8 live births during her reproductive period.
Example: Computation of the specific fertility rate and total fertility rate from the data given below:
