In the year 1975 the death rate has been higher than the birth rate for the first time since the end of the war. This means that our country has now the same problem as the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic namely a declining population. A decline in the birth rate is a phenomenon that could be observed in many industrialised countries since the 60s. This resulted in questions and problems that concern many areas of the economic an social development. The need for kindergartens, class rooms, apartments and workplaces has to be evaluated anew constantly as well as the necessary number of foreign workers or the financial burden for the contributors to the public pension scheme. In the developing countries on the other hand, it is the population boom in connection with the unemployment rate and the shortage of food that causes immense problems - which in return has an impact on the rich countries. Therefore, worldwide measures are taken understand the factors that influence the population growth and the birth rate so that decisions can be made for the future. The International Statistic Institute conducts, commissioned by the United Nations, a World-Fertility-Survey (WFS) in numerous countries; the up until now largest research on fertility and its conditions. The title birth-biography implies that this special survey collects information that cannot be gained from the existing birth statistic; the reports from the registrars offices to the Central Statistical Office cannot be merged with data from previous reports and also can not be evaluated together. To a limited extent, special question on children born alive had already been posed in the Mikrozensus in 1971 (Mikrozensus MZ7102). Since the number of answers was quite high, important partial results had already been gained. This special survey also concentrates on question on regional and social origin, occupation of the women in connection with the birth of their children and previous marriages. It is also noted if and at what age a child died. This is necessary for research on social conditions of infant mortality which is still quite high in Austria.
Probability: Stratified: Disproportional
Face-to-face interview
