Determinants of Family Size Preferences in Pakistan

Abstract

The paper attempts to investigate and identify some of the most important predictors of family size-preferences in Pakistan. Based on cross-sectional data relating to 9416 currently married women, the results of this study suggest that having one or more sons in the family is the principal predictor of the desired family size. Yet another important predictor is the education of the wife which plays a critical role in the family size determination. The study shows that the preferences for family size do not vary greatly between urban and rural areas. However, it seems that if more refined measures of such preferences are used in the future surveys, the practice would provide a better understanding of the prevailing reproductive norms in different segments of the society.