New research has uncovered several possible reasons why being more religious is often associated with higher fertility. In his new report, Religion and Fertility in Canada, demographer and Cardus Senior Fellow Lyman Stone compared the childbearing decisions of Canadian women who attend religious services at least monthly to those who infrequently or never attend services.

Among Canadian women aged 35 to 39, those who attend religious services at least monthly average 2.3 kids per woman. In the same age group, Canadian women who attend less frequently or never average 1.5 children per woman.