The fertility rate now is
a) barely larger than the dependency ratio.
b) just barely larger than the replacement population rate.
c) about equal to the net immigration rate.
d) just slightly below the replacement population rate.

The correct answer is B. The fertility rate now is just barely larger than the replacement population rate.

Explanation:

The fertility rate is the average number of children each woman gives birth to during a lifetime in a population.

In demographics and theories of demographic transition, the concept of replacement level is used to describe the number of babies needed per woman on average to maintain a stable population level. At low mortality rates for women, the compensation level is approximately 2.1 children per woman, while countries with higher mortality may have compensation levels of over 3 children per woman. In many countries of the world, high mortality or poverty and high total fertility are often associated. Countries with low total fertility, on the other hand, tend to have lower mortality rates and be relatively wealthy. Overall, high fertility levels are often due to a lack of contraceptives, stronger affection for traditional religious traditions and fewer opportunities for women to study or work.

According to the United Nations, the fertility rate per region as 2019 is: Europe (1.52), Canada and the United States (2.02), Latin America (2.17), Asia (2.3), Oceania (2.42), and Africa (4.45). The world's average fertility rate, according to the same investigation, is of 2.5 children per woman, slighty larger than the replacement population rate of 2.1 children per woman.