The qualitative and methodological aspects of recent increased fertility levels and trends in Georgia

Shorena Tsiklauri, Ilia State University

Georgia experience low level of fertility during the dramatic economic, social and political instability since 1990’s. In addition, changes reproductive behavior caused decline of fertility level. Most Georgian women have and oriented to have two children. But the recently official statistics observed the fertility “boom” since 2008. The scholars argue that there has not been implemented any measures for stimulating of fertility in Georgia. This study aims to explored changes in recent fertility trends and current fertility preferences in Georgia. This paper is going to answer the questions: Does the recent increased fertility trend in Georgia is real? Does the two child norm be strong in Georgia or this upward fertility trend actually resulted to the increase in the number of third and next order of children in a family due to the initiative of the Catholicos-Patriarch at the end of 2007, to baptize personally each third and next order of child in a family?