: Africa population

News from Population Matters.

  • Kibera women banner

    Unmet needs: conversations with the women left behind

    Population Matters’ Director, Robin Maynard, summarises events at this month’s Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, and recounts his experience of meeting young women and their families in Africa’s largest slum and surrounding…

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    Cracking knuckles and counting kids

    Population Matters’ Campaigns and Projects Officer, Florence Blondel, reflects on her family life in Uganda, and the changes she sees coming. There was a time when I would start to…

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    High population density hurts child health, study finds

    A new analysis of how different development factors affect the health of children in Africa found that child health is worst in countries with high population densities. The study, published…

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    Human population density main driver of nature loss in Africa

    A new study reveals that rapid human population growth is the biggest driver of environmental degradation in African countries, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in family planning as…

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    Human population growth squeezing out Serengeti wildlife, study shows

    A new study published in the journal Science reveals that rapid human population growth along the edge of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is squeezing out wildlife and damaging the ecosystem, despite…

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    One step forward, two steps back in African economic development?

    Despite significant progress in recent years, Malawi’s government is concerned that young Malawis will inherit only poverty as economic gains are neutralised by population growth.  Malawi sees an increase in…

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    Tanzanian president: “birth control is for the lazy”

    UPDATE 25 September 2018 Since this story was written, the Tanzanian government has ordered a US health charity to withdraw television advertisements promoting family planning. This worrying development suggests that…

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    Egypt seeks fewer babies: South Korea wants more

    Egypt’s government has announced welcome plans to curb its rapid population growth as part of its 2018-2022 medium-term sustainable development plan. Meanwhile, South Korea is adopting policies to increase its…

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    Imams support family planning in Senegal

    Public health officials and NGOs in Senegal turn to mosques to expand the provision of family planning, The Christian Science Monitor reports. A key first step, results indicate. Senegal is over 90%…

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    Africa: Demographic dividend or population disaster?

    By 2050, more than half of the anticipated growth in global population is expected to occur in Africa. While some leaders see this as an economic opportunity, others can sense a…