Africa's population growth and trends

Figures 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 show the global population growth trends, global population estimates, and projections and the continental population share respectively. From 1950—1970, Latin America and the Caribbean region recorded the

FIGURE 9.1 Global population growth estimates 1950—2020 by regions Data Source: UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019)

FIGURE 9.2 Global population estimates and projections 1950—2100 by regions Data Source: UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019)

highest population growth until the period of 1965-1970. Africa on the other hand was at par with Oceania for the 1950-1955 growth estimates but increased afterwards, surpassing the Latin American and the Caribbean region for the 1970—1975 growth estimates, and has become the fastest growing region in the world until current years (see Figure 9.1). Africa’s demography varies widely. The continent consists of countries like Ethiopia and Egypt with populations of about a 100 million, Nigeria, which recorded almost 200 million in 2019, and others such as Liberia, Mauritania, Botswana and Gambia with population less than 5 million. Regardless of the population sizes of African countries, most of them grow at an average of 2% annually (2015—2020), with few extremities like 3.2% in Democratic Republic of Congo and 0.87 in South Sudan. By 2100,

FIGURE 9.3 Continental population share for 2020 and 2100

Data Source: UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019)

Tanzania, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to join Nigeria to replace Brazil, Russia, Mexico and Bangladesh, which are part of the top ten most populated countries in the world. This means that five out of the ten most populous countries will be found in Africa by 2100 (see Figures 9.2 and 9.3). Asia will hit a peak in population around 2055 and then decline but will remain the largest region with projected population share of 43% by 2100, while Africa will experience a surge in population from 2020 to 2100, obtaining 39% of the world population share.