WOMEN
of Our
WORLD2005
Definitions
Lifetime Births per Woman (TFR): The total fertility rate, defined as the
number of children a woman would have if current age-specific fertility rates
remain constant throughout her childbearing years.
Percent of Women Ages 15-19 Giving Birth in One Year: Births per 1,000
women ages 15-19 (the age-specific fertility rate), divided by 10.
Contraceptive Use: The percentage of married or “in-union” women ages
15-49 who are currently using contraception. “Any method” includes modern
and traditional methods. “Modern” methods include clinic and supply
methods such as the pill, injectables, implants, IUD, condom, and sterilization.
Percent of Births Attended by Skilled Personnel: Skilled personnel include
doctors, nurses, and midwives.
Maternal Deaths per 100,000 Live Births: Also known as the maternal
mortality ratio, the number of deaths to women per 100,000 live births
that result from conditions related to pregnancy, delivery, and related
complications.
Lifetime Chance of Dying From Maternal Causes: The probability that a
woman will die during her lifetime from causes related to pregnancy and
delivery. The measure combines the probability of becoming pregnant and
the risk of death from each pregnancy (as measured by the 2000 maternal
mortality ratio).
Percent Literate Ages 15-24: Also known as the youth literacy rate. UNESCO
defines literacy as a person who can, with understanding, both read and
write a short simple statement on his or her everyday life.
Percent Enrolled in Secondary School: The ratio of the number of students
enrolled in secondary school to the population in the applicable age group
(such as ages 12 to 17) for the country (gross enrollment ratio). It can exceed
100 when the number of students currently enrolled exceeds the population
of the relevant age group.
Female Secondary School Enrollment as Percent of Male Enrollment: The
ratio of the female enrollment rate to the male enrollment rate for secondary
school.
Percent Economically Active Ages 15+: The proportion of the population
over age 15 that is classified as either employed or unemployed, i.e., all those
who supply labor or are available to supply labor. Classifications can vary by
country.
Women as Percent of Nonfarm Wage Earners: Women’s paid employment
in nonagricultural sectors (i.e., industry or services) as a percentage of total
nonagricultural employees.
Women as Percent of Parliament: The percentage of seats in the single or
lower chamber of the national parliament that are held by women.
More developed regions, following the UN classification, comprise all of Europe
and North America, plus Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. All other
regions and countries are classified as less developed. Sub-Saharan Africa
includes all countries of Africa except the northern African countries of Algeria,
Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.