Did you know that Niger is the country with the highest fertility rate in the world with a rate of almost 7 children per woman, and that the African continent accounts for around 1.1 billion out of the 7 billion people in the world?

The fertility rate is the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her childbearing years. In 2023, the fertility rate in Niger was estimated to be 6.73 children per woman, that is almost 7 children per woman.

Thus Niger is the country with the highest fertility rate in the world followed by Mali. The total population of Niger is growing at a fast pace. The population growth in Niger is amongst the top 10 highest in the world.

Lack of good medical conditions which include access to vaccines, antibiotics and a balanced nutrition are most common in thirds world countries. As a result, the infant mortality rates in African countries such as Niger and Mali are also amongst the highest.

Nowadays, a large population growth in a country is either associated with a poor economy, lack of awareness and preventive measures or poor living conditions. Lack of access to birth control and contraception in third world countries also contributes to higher fertility rates.

The global population is around 7 billion people and the African continent makes up around 1.1 billion people of the total global population, which is, among other factors, due to most of the inhabitants belonging to the low income group where children are needed to help provide for the family by starting to work at earlier ages.

Statistics show that the fertility rate per woman in low income countries is twice as high as the global average. As a result, 9 out of the top 10 countries with the highest fertility rates are in Africa.

The Top-10 countries are:

1. Niger 6.73

2. Angola 5.76

3. DRC 5.56

4. Mali 5.45

5. Benin 5.39

6. Chad 5.35

7. Uganda 5.26

8. Somalia 5.22

9. South Sudan 5.2

10. Burundi 4.96…

15. Nigeria 4.57

Though Nigeria ranks 15th on the list, the United Nations Population Fund, UNPF, Technical Specialist, Maternal & Reproductive Health, Dr Adeela Khan, in an event organised to mark the 2023 World Population Day organised by the National Population Commission, NPC, in Abuja on Tuesday, July 11, stated that the challenge of funding family planning in the country may lead to increasing unwanted pregnancies and abortions, with it estimating that funding gap (which increased from $25m in 2022 to $32m in 2023) would lead to 700,000 unintended pregnancies, which would further lead to 300,000 unplanned births and 300,000 unsafe abortions.

During a panel discussion titled ‘Dialogue on financing and investment in family planning: meeting the growing demand of Nigerian women’, Technical Specialist, Maternal & Reproductive Health, UNFPA, Dr Adeela Khan, said that the funding gap for family planning was widening, increasing from $25m in last year to $32m in 2023.

Sources: Statista | Punch

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