Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is a major demographic index used to measure population growth. This indicator (TFR) varies significantly across Africa. This variation is influenced by cultural, economic, and policy-related factors.
Methods: This research examines regional differences by applying Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to World Bank data from 2018 and 2022.
Results: The results of the study show that there are significant differences in the TFR across Africa’s regional blocks (North, West, East, Central, and Southern Africa), with Central and West Africa showing the highest rates and North Africa having the lowest. The results highlight the necessity for region-specific policies to address fertility patterns and their implications for sustainable development.
Conclusion: The insight provided by this study is a necessary tool for policymakers to design demographic interventions that align with regional realities and contribute to progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Keywords
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Nelson Doe Dzivor , Alice C. Mensah, Edith Mensah, Moses Odamtten
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
- Aitken, R. J. (2024). Population decline: Where demography, social science, and biology intersect. Reproduction, 168(1).
- Anderson, T., & Kohler, H. P. (2023). The future of fertility: Prospects for sub-replacement fertility. Population Studies, 77(1), 15-28.
- Balbo, N., Billari, F. C., & Mills, M. (2013). Fertility in advanced societies: A review of research. European Journal of Population, 29(1), 1–38.
- Basten, S., & Frejka, T. (2023). Regional variations in fertility transitions: A comparative study. Demographic Research, 47, 1101-1125.
- Basten, S., & Sobotka, T. (2022). Reassessing fertility metrics: Why TFR remains essential. Demographic Research, 46, 1103-1120.
- Billari, F. C. (2015). Integrating macro- and micro-level approaches in the explanation of population change. Population Studies, 69(sup1), S11–S20.
- Bongaarts, J. (2016). Slow down population growth. Nature, 530(7591), 409–412.
- Canning, D., Raja, S., & Yazbeck, A. S. (2015). Africa's Demographic Transition: Dividend or Disaster? The World Bank.
- Cleland, J. (2015). The benefits of educating women. Science, 346(6209), 10–12.
- Esping-Andersen, G., & Billari, F. (2023). Comparative fertility trends and the welfare state. European Sociological Review, 39(1), 45-60.
- Feng, W., Cai, Y., & Gu, B. (2013). Population, policy, and politics: How will history judge China's one-child policy? Population and Development Review, 38, 115–129.
- Gietel-Basten, S. (2022). Fertility measurement in the 21st century: The relevance of TFR. Population Horizons, 19(2), 45-60.
- Götmark, F., & Andersson, M. (2023). Achieving sustainable population: Fertility decline in many developing countries follows modern contraception, not economic growth. Sustainable Development, 31(3), 1606-1617.
- Hirschman, C. (2022). Global fertility comparisons: Policy and population change. Annual Review of Sociology, 49, 23-42.
- Kamau, R. and Mwangi, J. (2024). A Multilevel Analysis of Factors Associated with Unintended Pregnancy in Kenya. African Population Studies, 37(1).
- Kohler, H. P., & Ortega, J. A. (2024). The global fertility landscape: Regional trends and challenges. Population Studies, 78(1), 12-30.
- Lee, R., & Mason, A. (2014). Is low fertility really a problem? Population aging, dependency, and consumption. Science, 346(6206), 229–234.
- McDonald, P. (2013). Socioeconomic correlates of fertility decline in the developing world. Population and Development Review, 25(3), 100–113.
- Muriuki, E. and Maina, W. (2024). Levels and Determinants of Nonmarital Fertility in Kenya. African Population Studies, 37(1).
- Siaw, P.M. and Dake, F.A.A. (2024). Co-Wives and Co-Siblings: Does the Rank of Wives Matter in Fertility Among Women in Ghana? African Population Studies, 37(1).
- Sobotka, T. (2023). Diverging fertility trajectories in the 21st century: A global comparison. Demography, 60(1), 55-78.
- Turner, N., & Götmark, F. (2023). Human fertility and religions in sub-Saharan Africa: A comprehensive review of publications and data, 2010-2020. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 27(1), 119-171.
- United Nations. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
- Visaria, P. (2019). Population policy in India: Declining fertility and continuing socio-economic challenges. Asian Population Studies, 7(2), 121–137.
- Vollset, S. E., Goren, E., Yuan, C. W., Cao, J., Smith, A. E., Hsiao, T., ... & Murray, C. J. (2020). Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet, 396(10258), 1285-1306.
- Wilson, C., & Pison, G. (2024). Fertility transitions and policy responses: A global overview. European Journal of Population, 40(1), 67-83.
- Zeman, K., Winkler-Dworak, M., & Sobotka, T. (2024). Fertility decline in the later phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of policy interventions, vaccination programmes, and economic uncertainty. medRxiv, 2024-04.
- Zhang, T. T., Cai, X. Y., Shi, X. H., Zhu, W., & Shan, S. N. (2023). The effect of family fertility support policies on fertility, their contribution, and Policy Pathways to fertility improvement in OECD countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4790.
References
Aitken, R. J. (2024). Population decline: Where demography, social science, and biology intersect. Reproduction, 168(1).
Anderson, T., & Kohler, H. P. (2023). The future of fertility: Prospects for sub-replacement fertility. Population Studies, 77(1), 15-28.
Balbo, N., Billari, F. C., & Mills, M. (2013). Fertility in advanced societies: A review of research. European Journal of Population, 29(1), 1–38.
Basten, S., & Frejka, T. (2023). Regional variations in fertility transitions: A comparative study. Demographic Research, 47, 1101-1125.
Basten, S., & Sobotka, T. (2022). Reassessing fertility metrics: Why TFR remains essential. Demographic Research, 46, 1103-1120.
Billari, F. C. (2015). Integrating macro- and micro-level approaches in the explanation of population change. Population Studies, 69(sup1), S11–S20.
Bongaarts, J. (2016). Slow down population growth. Nature, 530(7591), 409–412.
Canning, D., Raja, S., & Yazbeck, A. S. (2015). Africa's Demographic Transition: Dividend or Disaster? The World Bank.
Cleland, J. (2015). The benefits of educating women. Science, 346(6209), 10–12.
Esping-Andersen, G., & Billari, F. (2023). Comparative fertility trends and the welfare state. European Sociological Review, 39(1), 45-60.
Feng, W., Cai, Y., & Gu, B. (2013). Population, policy, and politics: How will history judge China's one-child policy? Population and Development Review, 38, 115–129.
Gietel-Basten, S. (2022). Fertility measurement in the 21st century: The relevance of TFR. Population Horizons, 19(2), 45-60.
Götmark, F., & Andersson, M. (2023). Achieving sustainable population: Fertility decline in many developing countries follows modern contraception, not economic growth. Sustainable Development, 31(3), 1606-1617.
Hirschman, C. (2022). Global fertility comparisons: Policy and population change. Annual Review of Sociology, 49, 23-42.
Kamau, R. and Mwangi, J. (2024). A Multilevel Analysis of Factors Associated with Unintended Pregnancy in Kenya. African Population Studies, 37(1).
Kohler, H. P., & Ortega, J. A. (2024). The global fertility landscape: Regional trends and challenges. Population Studies, 78(1), 12-30.
Lee, R., & Mason, A. (2014). Is low fertility really a problem? Population aging, dependency, and consumption. Science, 346(6206), 229–234.
McDonald, P. (2013). Socioeconomic correlates of fertility decline in the developing world. Population and Development Review, 25(3), 100–113.
Muriuki, E. and Maina, W. (2024). Levels and Determinants of Nonmarital Fertility in Kenya. African Population Studies, 37(1).
Siaw, P.M. and Dake, F.A.A. (2024). Co-Wives and Co-Siblings: Does the Rank of Wives Matter in Fertility Among Women in Ghana? African Population Studies, 37(1).
Sobotka, T. (2023). Diverging fertility trajectories in the 21st century: A global comparison. Demography, 60(1), 55-78.
Turner, N., & Götmark, F. (2023). Human fertility and religions in sub-Saharan Africa: A comprehensive review of publications and data, 2010-2020. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 27(1), 119-171.
United Nations. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Visaria, P. (2019). Population policy in India: Declining fertility and continuing socio-economic challenges. Asian Population Studies, 7(2), 121–137.
Vollset, S. E., Goren, E., Yuan, C. W., Cao, J., Smith, A. E., Hsiao, T., ... & Murray, C. J. (2020). Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet, 396(10258), 1285-1306.
Wilson, C., & Pison, G. (2024). Fertility transitions and policy responses: A global overview. European Journal of Population, 40(1), 67-83.
Zeman, K., Winkler-Dworak, M., & Sobotka, T. (2024). Fertility decline in the later phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of policy interventions, vaccination programmes, and economic uncertainty. medRxiv, 2024-04.
Zhang, T. T., Cai, X. Y., Shi, X. H., Zhu, W., & Shan, S. N. (2023). The effect of family fertility support policies on fertility, their contribution, and Policy Pathways to fertility improvement in OECD countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4790.