The African paradox of growth and development

Abstract

Africa with approximately 550 million people accounts for about 11.4% of the worlds estimated 4.8 billion. It has by far the highest birth rate of any world region: 45/1000 population compared with an estimated 27/1000 for the whole world. Africa also has the highest death rate of any continent and about 45% of its population is under age 15. The speed with which population growth can be brought under control will be a critical factor in determining Africas ultimate population size. Throughout Islamic-Arabic North Africa pronatalist forces are still quite strong even though the region also boasts the continents greatest family planning successes. 1 obstacle to the spread of family planning in North Africa is the low status of women as viewed from a Western perspective. Kenya is characterized by development contrasts; Kenya has experienced recent rapid declines in mortality yet the pronatalist forces operating there are among the strongest on the continent. For the more than 80% of Kenyans who live and work on the land children are seen as essential to survival and status. Ironically some of Kenyas recent development successes may have inadvertently stimulated population growth. Nigeria the most populous African nation contains within its borders enormous cultural and geographic contrasts; its moist equatorial climate causes high levels of ill health and mortality. The Nigerian government is now strongly supportive of population control measures as long as they are voluntary with the emphasis on family health and child spacing rather than limitation. Africas demographic extremes range widely. The net effect of all the forces now in effect almost guarantees extremely high population growth rates on the African continent in the years ahead.