Rapid Population Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Résumé du livre

Substantial social and economic progress in sub - Saharan Africa during the past 15 years has not altered the traditional regime of very high fertility. Explanations for this paradox have to turn to broad societal characteristics not captured by multivariate analysis of the household level. The search for physical survival promotes a very large family norm. High fertility may also reflect the predicament of the African woman. This paper argues that enough is known to provide a reliable basis for policies aimed at reducing fertility. The case for such policies rests on evidence that the challenge posed by accelerating population growth in Africa has not elicited a commensurate response in the form of technological or organizational progress. Instead, growing population numbers have accentuated the food deficit, magnified the budgetary problem of financing basic needs services and complicated the employment issue. The paper projects future population growth of nine sample countries, accounting for two-thirds of Africa's total population, on the basis of four sets of assumptions. These exercises confirm the desirability of action by African governments to reduce fertility.