One of the demographic indicators that is crucial is fertility. Globally fertility has continued to influence population growth and development outcomes. Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of fertility among women of reproductive age is vital for designing effective population and health policies, particularly in North Central Nigeria, where diverse cultural and economic conditions persist. This study systematically reviewed and synthesized empirical evidence on the socioeconomic determinants of fertility among women aged 15–49 years in North Central Nigeria.

Specifically, it aimed to identify the major socioeconomic factors influencing fertility, assess the magnitude and direction of associations between these determinants and fertility outcomes, compare patterns and disparities across states and socioeconomic groups, and highlight existing research and policy gaps.Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, five electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar viz-a-viz grey literature sources were systematically searched. Inclusion criteria focused on studies conducted between 2000 and 2025 that examined socioeconomic determinants of fertility in North Central Nigeria.

Out of 1,300 identified records, 50 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, and 28 were included in the meta-analysis. Data were synthesized using random-effects models, with heterogeneity assessed via the I² statistic.Findings revealed that education, income, occupation, and place of residence were the most consistent predictors of fertility behaviour. Higher educational attainment and income levels were associated with significantly lower fertility rates, while rural residence and unemployment correlated with higher fertility. The pooled analysis showed moderate heterogeneity (I² = 62%), indicating contextual differences across studies and states.Variations in study design, data quality, and limited state-level representativeness may have influenced the pooled estimates. Additionally, some relevant unpublished studies might not have been captured.

The study concludes that socioeconomic factors remain central in shaping fertility patterns among women in North Central Nigeria. The study Recommends targeted interventions promoting education, women’s empowerment, and reproductive health access are essential for achieving sustainable fertility decline. Future research should emphasize longitudinal and policy-oriented studies to close the evidence gap in this region.