Case Study: Population growth in Niger

Question 1

Figures

Answer 1

• Grown form 1.7 million to 13 million from 1960 to 2008
• Growth rate of 2.9%
• Expected the population to quadruple by 2050 = reach 56 million
• Fertility rate: 7.1 per woman
• Half population is under 15 years old
• Literacy rate: 28.7%

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• Not educated about contraception, only 5% of population use family planning and contraception
• Want many children to help with farming
• For families, children = source of wealth as they work on land, go into towns, earn money, and take care of parents when they’re old

Question 3

Effects

Answer 3

• Impossible for gov to provide adequate healthcare, education, jobs
• Not enough resources to provide for population/ resources will be exploited too quickly => death rates increase in future
• High unemployment rate

Question 4

Solutions

Answer 4

• Calls for info campaigns to educate religious leaders and women about the availability and importance of family planning/contraception
• Number of early marriages will be cut by raising the marriage age to 18