This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Africa's Demographic Dilemma ¶
By 2050, Africa's population is expected to double from 1.3 billion to 2.5 billion, posing significant challenges for individual states and the continent as a whole.
According to a study by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, Niger has the highest birthrate and will triple its population by 2050. The country's lack of infrastructure, healthcare, education, and jobs for its growing population is a major concern.
"It's a cycle," said Alisa Kaps, a member of staff at the Berlin Institute. "Both economic growth and declining birthrates are interdependent. It needs a certain amount of development for births to decline, and that in turn creates incentives for more growth."
Education is a key factor in reducing birthrates, as it increases the age at which girls get married and contributes to the family's income. In North Africa, countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco have already seen success in reducing birthrates, with an average of two children per woman.
"There is a sense among African leaders that because the continent has a large youthful population, that translates into growth. It does, but because of the slow demographic transition, Africa only gets to get its demographic dividend by about 2050," said Jakkie Cilliers, director of the South African Institute for Security Studies.
