Africa's Demographic Challenges - The Young Population is the Only Chance for Development

Abstract

According to the UN, the world population exceeded seven billion at the end of October 2011. The world’s poorest region, sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing the fastest population growth and is likely to double by mid-century. This will further exacerbate poverty as more people compete for arable land, water and food. If Africa can reduce its birth rates while providing productive jobs for its many young people of working age, the continent could see similar development opportunities as the Asian “tiger states” have enjoyed in recent decades. However, job creation also has ecological limits, and a delay in the demographic transition could result in a closing of the poverty trap.