The demographic background to development in Africa

Although population growth in Africa is faster than anywhere else in the world development is not nearly as rapid as hoped. In order to understand the relationship between population growth and development one must look at the demographic background to development. A significant feature is the small population size of a large number of African countries. Nearly 1/4 have less than 1000000 inhabitants each while Nigeria and Egypt account for about 1/4 of the total population of the continent. Sharp contrasts also exist between the relatively prosperous coastal countries and the poorer countries of the interior. Africa has 1 of the lowest proportions of populations living in urban areas but the highest rate of growth of this population. Still Africas rural population has been growing steadily. The prevailing patterns of population distribution and migration in Africa have been influenced by historical and demographic factors physical and ecological considerations and the process of economic development. Urban areas have become industrial commerical and administrative centers attracting migrants from the poor rural areas. The high degree of population concentration in Africas cities is especially noticeable in Malawi Kenya Zimbabwe Guinea and Sierra Leone. The high primacy of capital cities the rapid growth rate of urban areas and the extreme dispersion of population distribution in general and in rural areas in particular have been identified as major spatial distribution problems in Africa. It has become increasingly difficult to provide adequate social services to the widely scattered settlements as is the situation in Sudan Mozambique Zambia and Libya. A few countries that experience high urban unemployment have established special youth camps as in Somalia and Zambia. It is now realized that to be successful population redistribution policies should be multidimensional taking into consideration all redistributional processes and broadly reflecting overall national policies. Research requires better data than are currently available in African countries. Cooperation is vital between researchers and government statistical services.