According to the United Nations’ “World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights” report released Monday, several African countries are expected to experience the world’s fastest population growth by 2050.
Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Egypt are among the nine nations projected to see the largest population increases. The population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to almost double by 2050.
By that time, the global population is estimated to reach 9.7 billion, with India surpassing China as the most populous country around 2027.
Africa is the only region expected to maintain strong population growth through the end of the century. Between 2020 and 2100, its population is projected to rise from 1.3 billion to 4.3 billion.
“Many of the fastest-growing populations are in the poorest countries, where population growth brings additional challenges,” said Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
This growth occurs amid a global decline in fertility rates. The average number of births per woman dropped from 3.2 in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019, and is expected to decrease to 2.2 by 2050.
By 2050, about 25% of people in Europe and Northern America could be 65 or older, while some regions face population decline due to low birth rates and migration. Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines are seeing the highest migration outflows, while Myanmar, Syria, and Venezuela lead in displacement caused by conflict.
Wow, I didn’t know Africa’s population was growing so fast! 🌍
Is anyone else concerned about the resources needed to support such growth? 🤔
Thank you for the insightful article. It really opened my eyes!
Why is Africa the only region with strong growth through the century?
Are the projections for Nigeria and other countries reliable?
Hmm… I wonder what this means for global economies in the future.
Does this mean more young people in Africa? That’s exciting for innovation!
Could this lead to more urbanization and congestion in African cities?