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Hispanic Fertility, Religion and Religiousness in the U.S.

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Abstract

Is the higher fertility of Hispanics in the United States due to their religion and/or to their greater religiousness? Evidence from national survey data indicates no difference in fertility between Protestant and Catholic Hispanic women but Hispanics are more religious than non-Hispanics in terms of the perceived importance of religion in their personal lives. Religiousness is associated with higher fertility but Hispanic fertility is higher than non-Hispanic fertility regardless of religion or religiousness. Ethnic differences in education and income in turn are more important for fertility than the religious dimension.

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Notes

  1. The 2002 National Survey of Family Growth was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. The sample represents the household population of the United States. Personal interviews were conducted with 7,643 women of reproductive age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Population Research, Princeton University, 251 Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    Charles F. Westoff

  2. Office of Population Research, Princeton University, 225 Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    Emily A. Marshall

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  1. Charles F. Westoff
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  2. Emily A. Marshall
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Correspondence to Charles F. Westoff.

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Westoff, C.F., Marshall, E.A. Hispanic Fertility, Religion and Religiousness in the U.S.. Popul Res Policy Rev 29, 441–452 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-009-9156-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-009-9156-3

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