According to the most recent report by Daily Mail UK, the global average fertility rate was 2.3 in 2020, compared to the 4.7 rate in 1970; this difference measures a 51 percent drop. A study titled “The New Economics of Fertility” asserted that as fertility rates reduce in many parts of the world, there is continual growth in Africa. Out of the top 32 countries with the highest fertility rates, there are 31 African countries with Niger as the first (6.9) and Nigeria in the eighth position (5.3).
To address rising population, a study entitled “Fertility and Population Explosion in Nigeria: Does Income Actually Count?” affirmed that an increasing population without adequate and effective policies and programmes to balance socio-economic and political vices could be disastrous for a nation. The researchers of the study, from different Nigerian Universities, added that there have been underutilization of Nigeria’s rising population, considering the massive unemployment rate that has caused several socioeconomic and political crises in the country.
Impending population growth in Nigeria spurs concern.
Recently, it was estimated that the population of Nigeria will rise to 401 million by 2050, ranking the third most populous country in the world. This impending population increase has raised questions concerning the future of Nigeria. Studies have revealed that population increase has positive and significant impacts on the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country, although some recorded negative results. Because income growth has no significant influence on population growth, the studies concluded that income has no tie with rising population.
A paper recently shared “new fertility facts” that are affecting old theories on the link between child bearing, years of education and income level. The study highlighted low-income countries, like Nigeria and some African countries, as the only places where there is existence of negative relationship between income and fertility rate. The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs has also projected Nigeria as the fourth most populous country in the next 28 years with a population of 375 million.
The population of Nigeria is currently at 216 million.
In recent times, the growth of Nigeria has not been impressive with its fast growing population until 2021 when its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 3.6 percent. Despite the country’s efforts to regulate growth, experts have expressed worries concerning the possible consequence of overpopulation as the country is estimated to have attained 216 million population. While Nigeria expresses concern about its overpopulation, a study has shown that high-income countries like Germany, Japan, Italy and Spain have emerging ultralow fertility rates.
There was an observation by the study that the richer parents get, the more they invest in the quality of their children, particularly in aspects of education. The costly expenses of this investment has caused many parents to bear fewer children as income increases. However, history has it that fertility and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita have no positive relationship, across countries and over time. The report has also stated that the downward fertility rate in developed countries is as a result of women’s decisions to prioritize their careers and have kids much later in life.
Financial pressure discourages child bearing.
World Bank data says 106 countries have fertility rates below 2.1, with South Korea, Puerto Rico and Hong Kong having below 1.0. An economic professor at the University of Maryland, Dr. Melissa Kearney, stated that the developed world is drifting away from traditional family values as adults are coming into conflict with parenting and are rather committing themselves to building their careers. Others have highlighted expensive costs of child care and other financial pressure as cause of low fertility rate. A report stated that over the last three decades, cost of raising a child has increased by 220 percent.
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Nigeria’s fertility rate is at 5.3% – By 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world. – Express your point of view.
The fertility level in the country is really cause for concern and if something drastical is not done,it will lead to overpopulation of the country and if this happens it will affect many things .
It’s insane that women in industrialised countries are deciding to put their professions first and wait until they’re older to start a family.
It’s unfortunate that folks in the industrialised world are increasingly prioritising their work over raising children because of the pressures they face as parents.
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Nigeria’s high fertility rate has significant implications for the country’s social and economic development. Rapid population growth can strain resources and infrastructure, leading to poverty and inequality. It is crucial for the gov’t to address the root causes of high fertility rates and promote access to family planning and reproductive health services to ensure a healthier and more prosperous future for the Nigerian people.
We need to caution the fertility rate in the country because we are already overpopulated and it is not allowing the countries resources to be properly circulated and I will be glad if fertility rate is reduced
This fertility rate will lead to overpopulation in the country we need to manage our fertility rate been overpopulated in the country we not benefit us we need to find way to reduce fertility rate in the country
Overpopulation of the country, which would have far-reaching consequences, would be the result of the current fertility rate in the country if nothing were done to reduce it.
By 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world.
Fertility rate in Nigeria is growing speedily. We have government that is not taking issue like this serious. We really need to plan ahead.
Nigeria can’t afford to hold larger population than these if it get to 5.3% by 2050. Which means we will be third most populous country in the world. The current Nigerian economy can’t survive it. It will be better for our government sensitize the masses on the possible danger of overpopulation.
It is very obvious that there is a continuous in Nigeria population despite the hardship in the economy and will be third most populous country in the world 2050. This calls for a great concern considering the availability of resource in the country. The FG needs to inform the country of possible challenges that the country experience population explosions,
If nothing is done to lower the fertility rate, the country will soon be overpopulated, which would have dire implications.
Our fertility rate is so high. There is need for us to be able to manage and decide how we can control our fertility rate. It will also affect the way allocations are awarded.