Africa Must Mimic East Asia's Demographic Dividend to Stave Off Malthusian Time Bomb

18 September 2013
analysis

Africa's population growth figures are staggering. The continent had a fertility rate of 5.4 children per woman during the 2005-10 period - double that of any other region - and it is projected to decline only to 3.2 by 2050, still higher than other regions (the rate is under 2.5 in Asia, and below 2 in East Asia).

That will more than double Africa's current population of 1 billion to 2.1 billion by 2050, and quadruple it to 3.9 billion by 2100, according to the population division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Half of projected population growth from 2012-2050 will be in sub-Saharan Africa.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.