Niger’s Rapidly Growing Population and the Need for Improved Family Planning Methods

06-2022

An article researching the causes of Niger's high birth rate and discussing the ways in which it can be returned to a healthy level. Within the article I show how contraceptive use is extremely low, the governments plans are ignored, the unsustainability of the growth, the cultural significance of large families, low education rates, and weak women's rights. The main reason for Niger's extreme population boom is the decrease in mortality rates, causing families to have far more children due to historic ideas of not all children surviving to adulthood. I chose to focus most of my research on the increased need for women's rights and education since it would allow women to make more decisions on their families and have the opportunity to work, which would ultimately decrease the fertility rate. This research was presented in a policy brief format.

**Figure 1.**
Soumana, his sister Hadjo, and children from Kosseye Satom pose for a picture © Stephan Gladieu / World Bank.

**Figure 2.**
Niger population growth since 1950.

**Figure 3.**
The percentage of women between the ages of 20-24 which were married before turning 18. Data from 2006.

**Figure 4.**
Niger literacy rates among different age groups showing the increase in younger vs older residents.

**Figure 5.**
Breakdown of contraceptive methods in Niger in 2017. Note that condoms are a very small minority compared to other nations.