Fertility and Family Surveys in Countries of the ECE Region

The Fertility and Family Surveys (FFS) project was initiated by the Population Activities Unit (PAU) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in the late 1980s. Its principal objective is to conduct a long-term sample survey research programme focusing on fertility and family change. The aim is to document and understand various aspects of contemporary partnership and reproductive behaviour in industrialised countries. Results of analyses based on the FFS data for the various countries are presented in the Standard Country Reports. Portugal has had a large decline in the birth rate with live births dropping from 152,000 in 1981 to 113,000 in 1997. Fertility fell to replacement level in 1982 with an average of 2.1 children per woman. The specific objective of this survey of Portugal was to understand the new patterns of fertility and family formation in Portugal. The survey examines: parental home; partnership; fertility; contraception; abortion; level of education; children wanted.