Many countries are exhibiting levels of fertility below the replacement level, thus resulting in a decline in their overall population. This is visible especially in European countries and other developed countries. Therefore, in response to these new demographic issues, the UN Population Division organised an Expert Group Meeting in Below-Replacement Fertility that was held in November 1997. This volume contains the collected set of papers that were presented at this meeting. The papers examine the recent fertility trends in the specified countries, the determinants of below-replacement fertility, future expectations for fertility, and consequences of below-replacement fertility as well as policy and programme options. Further, the volume contains background papers that reviewed the issues concerning the theme of each session. It also consists of country papers that were prepared by experts highlighting these issues in context of their own country.