More than half of the world's population will be in Africa by 2050

david nganga

July 11, 2017 5:56 PM

UN report points out countries like Nigeria which it says will become world's third largest country by population.

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The world’s population could rise to about 2.2 billion people in 2050 and more than half of that growth will occur in Africa.

According to a UN Report, Africa will account for the highest population rise with an additional 1.3 billion people on the continent.

The report tends to point out Nigeria as the country in which much of Africa’s population boom will come from.

The country is projected to become the world’s third largest country by population, becoming one of the six nations projected to have a population of over 300 million.

The statistics do not give for good reading to African governments which are currently finding it difficult to provide basic services such as health and education with the ever-increasing number of citizens.

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Countries such as Nigeria are struggling to cater to the education needs of its millions of annual high school graduates.

Africa’s rapid population growth will occur despite expected reductions in fertility rates on the continent from 4.7 births per woman between 2010 and 2015 to 3.1 births per woman between 2045 and 2050.

And despite a drop in fertility rates, Africa’s steady growth is expected to rise pegged on age structure as the region is home to one of the World’s youngest continents.

Beyond 2050, Africa is expected to be the only region still experiencing “substantial population growth,” as such the continent’s share of the global population could rise from 17% at present to 40% by 2100.

david nganga