The continent of Africa ranks second in the world in population, again, right behind Asia. Africa contains 16% of the world’s population and stands at 1.3 billion people.
According to the United Nations’ World Populations Prospects report, the bulk of the world’s population growth will be in Africa. This report details that between 2015 and 2050, an additional 2.4 billion people will be on the planet. Of that number, 1.3 billion will be in Africa (Projections of Population Growth, 2019).
The most populous country is Nigeria with about 200 million people (Varrella 2020). Nigeria’s population accounts for 17% of the continent’s people. The United Nations has reported that Nigeria has one of the most explosive population and fertility growths in the world. In fact, Nigeria is one of eight countries expected to account collectively for half of the world’s total population increase between 2005 and 2050.
The reason for such a rise in population is the decrease of infant mortality and the increase of life expectancy. Access to medical care and upgraded living conditions in rural areas of African countries has enormous potential for continued growth - thus giving an escalation in population growth.
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