LAUSR

Abstract Background Saudi Arabia has a less favorable position to demographic transition due to the traditions, culture, and norms. But with modernization, urbanization and industrialization leading to educational improvement and lifestyle changes, values of children erodes. Thus, a study to investigate the value of education on fertility, entertained to capture this mere fact, specifically to analyze the role of education on fertility; variations created; economic variables; and contraception. Methods This is based on a random sample drawn from a Riyadh based university, taking ever married Saudi Arabian women employees. Linear regression, logistic regression, one-way ANOVA, and chisquare analyses were carried out to depict the role of education on number of children and other related variables. Results Education has high predictive value on age at marriage, age of husband at marriage, ideal family size, and contraceptive use; although not predictive, it creates variations on number of children, years lived with husband and intended number of children. Education’s association with economic variables – type of job, home ownership, and income as well as age of contraceptive users shows its prominence as a catalyst in the future of fertility in the Kingdom. Conclusions Thus, the improving educational levels at current pace shall bring down fertility remarkably warranting attention, policy measures and population programs to retain it above the replacement level.