Demographics: By end of century, 40% of humanity will be African

Well, we got a start in our house!

Will we all be African again one day soon? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. There has been an unprecedented demographic shift this century towards an increasingly African world.

A report released this week by the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) found that by the end of this century about 40 per cent of all humans (and nearly half of all children) will be African – one of the fastest and most radical demographic changes in history. In 1950 Africa accounted for only 9 per cent of the world’s population. The population explosion will be biggest in West Africa. By 2050, Nigeria alone will account for an astounding one-tenth of all births in the world. It is currently the largest economy in Africa.

Fertility rates are actually declining in Africa as they are in much of the world. However, they remain higher than anywhere else and, at the same time, life expectancy and child survival rates have drastically improved.

The population boom comes as a double edged sword for the African people themselves. It creates potentially exciting economic opportunities. According to the report, Africa could reap a massive demographic dividend from its bigger labour force and relatively fewer dependents, which could “transform the continent, breaking centuries-old cycles of poverty and inequality” (while the West continues to struggle with low fertility rates and a small working age, tax paying population).

Will we all be African again one day soon?  It's not as far-fetched as it sounds.  There has been an unprecedented demographic shift this century towards an increasingly African world. 

A report released this week by the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) found that by the end of this century about 40 per cent of all humans (and nearly half of all children) will be African – one of the fastest and most radical demographic changes in history.  In 1950 Africa accounted for only 9 per cent of the world’s population.  The population explosion will be biggest in West Africa. By 2050, Nigeria alone will account for an astounding one-tenth of all births in the world. It is currently the largest economy in Africa.

Fertility rates are actually declining in Africa as they are in much of the world.  However, they remain higher than anywhere else and, at the same time, life expectancy and child survival rates have drastically improved.

The population boom comes as a double edged sword for the African people themselves.  It creates potentially exciting economic opportunities.  According to the report, Africa could reap a massive demographic dividend from its bigger labour force and relatively fewer dependents, which could “transform the continent, breaking centuries-old cycles of poverty and inequality” (while the West continues to struggle with low fertility rates and a small working age, tax paying population). 

– See more at: http://www.mercatornet.com/demography/view/14635#sthash.eHbR77Aj.dpuf

A report released this week by the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) found that by the end of this century about 40 per cent of all humans (and nearly half of all children) will be African – one of the fastest and most radical demographic changes in history.  In 1950 Africa accounted for only 9 per cent of the world’s population.  The population explosion will be biggest in West Africa. By 2050, Nigeria alone will account for an astounding one-tenth of all births in the world. It is currently the largest economy in Africa.

Fertility rates are actually declining in Africa as they are in much of the world.  However, they remain higher than anywhere else and, at the same time, life expectancy and child survival rates have drastically improved.

The population boom comes as a double edged sword for the African people themselves.  It creates potentially exciting economic opportunities.  According to the report, Africa could reap a massive demographic dividend from its bigger labour force and relatively fewer dependents, which could “transform the continent, breaking centuries-old cycles of poverty and inequality” (while the West continues to struggle with low fertility rates and a small working age, tax paying population). 

– See more at: http://www.mercatornet.com/demography/view/14635#sthash.eHbR77Aj.dpuf

A report released this week by the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) found that by the end of this century about 40 per cent of all humans (and nearly half of all children) will be African – one of the fastest and most radical demographic changes in history.  In 1950 Africa accounted for only 9 per cent of the world’s population.  The population explosion will be biggest in West Africa. By 2050, Nigeria alone will account for an astounding one-tenth of all births in the world. It is currently the largest economy in Africa.

Fertility rates are actually declining in Africa as they are in much of the world.  However, they remain higher than anywhere else and, at the same time, life expectancy and child survival rates have drastically improved.

The population boom comes as a double edged sword for the African people themselves.  It creates potentially exciting economic opportunities.  According to the report, Africa could reap a massive demographic dividend from its bigger labour force and relatively fewer dependents, which could “transform the continent, breaking centuries-old cycles of poverty and inequality” (while the West continues to struggle with low fertility rates and a small working age, tax paying population). 

– See more at: http://www.mercatornet.com/demography/view/14635#sthash.eHbR77Aj.dpuf


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