I am using case studies of three countries to reveal further the dynamics between religiosity and fertility. Many literatures on religion tend to study its spirituality. Consequently, when addressing population changes, many scholars either disregard religiosity or concentrate on the impact of specific religious doctrines on reproductive choices.
Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel represent a notable exception in political science, conceptualizing religion as a social institution that influences social agents and norms rather than merely superstitious or spiritual notions. They categorize religiosity as reliance on and belief in religious authority as a facet of various stages of modernization. Their analysis suggests that states characterized by lower levels of political and economic modernization tend to exhibit heightened levels of religiosity, and conversely, more modernized societies reflect diminished religiosity. As highlighted in this paper’s literature review, the modernization level is a critical determinant of fertility rates.
Thus, through case studies, I intend to look at whether different stages and types of modernization impact religiosity and fertility rates. In other words, I am employing case studies as qualitative data to see if modernization, as a third variable, changes the suggested association between religiosity and fertility rate.
The selected case studies include Nigeria, South Korea, and the United States, each representing distinct stages and patterns of modernization, as well as varying fertility trends and levels of religiosity. This comparative analysis allows for a rigorous examination of how these factors collectively shape demographic outcomes.
Nigeria provides an important case for exploring the relationship between religiosity and fertility rates in the context of slow modernization. As one of the most religious countries in the world, with Islam and Christianity as dominant faiths, religiosity strongly influences social and cultural norms, including family size preferences. Fertility rates in Nigeria remain high, partly due to the economic value of large families in agricultural and informal economies. However, as modernization gradually spreads through urbanization, education, and economic changes, particularly among women, some shifts in fertility patterns are beginning to emerge, offering a lens into the tension between traditional religious values and modernizing influences.
South Korea, on the other hand, represents a striking example of rapid modernization and its impact on religiosity and fertility rates. Over the last few decades, South Korea has transitioned from a largely agrarian society to a highly industrialized and urbanized one. This modernization process has been accompanied by a sharp decline in fertility rates, which are now among the lowest in the world. Meanwhile, religiosity in South Korea has diminished, with increasing secularization among younger generations and declining adherence to traditional religious practices. The case of South Korea demonstrates how modernization can lead to demographic and cultural shifts, challenging traditional family structures and religious values.
The U.S. provides a contrasting case, where high levels of religiosity coexist with a relatively modernized society. Fertility rates in the U.S. are moderate compared to Nigeria and South Korea, reflecting the influence of both religious values and economic factors. Religious groups in the U.S., such as evangelical Christians, tend to have higher fertility rates compared to secular populations, showcasing the enduring role of religiosity in shaping demographic behaviors even in a modern context. Moreover, the U.S. offers insights into how modernization and individualism influence religiosity differently compared to the secularization trends observed in South Korea.
Collectively, these case studies illuminate the complex and multifaceted interplay between religiosity, modernization, and population dynamics, shaped by cultural, economic, and historical contexts. This research elucidates how modernization processes recalibrate fertility behaviors and religious landscapes across diverse global settings by examining these nations.
Author: Jungyeon Lee