The DOI matches its Crossref record; 34 of the 34 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Explaining Africa's rapid population growth, 1950 to 2020: trends, factors, implications, and recommendations
Open accessAbstract
This study examines the rapid growth of Africa’s population in the post-World War II era. The study finds that Africa’s population increased by over 1 billion, from 228.7 million in 1950 to 1.341 billion in 2020: 431 million in Eastern Africa; 404 million in Western Africa; 247.5 million in Northern Africa; 193.5 million in Middle Africa; and 64.5 million in Southern Africa. There are four countries in Africa with populations of 100 million or more: 214 million in Nigeria; 108 million in Ethiopia; 104 million in Egypt; and 101.8 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of the 1.341 billion people in Africa in 2020, 755.92 (56.4%) million are aged 24 and younger; and 533.5 (39.8%) million are under the age of 15. Some factors cited for this phenomenon are: high birth rates; high fertility rates; childbirth at a young age; low rates of contraceptive use; decline in infant mortality rates; decline in overall deaths rates; decline in maternal mortality rates; increase in life expectancy; and decline in HIV/AIDS related deaths. Some implications cited as a result of this phenomenon include increase in GDP and GDP per Capita in Africa; increase in the numbers of billionaires and millionaires in Africa; increase in political influence of African nations in the international community; and increase in the number of educated Africans, including those enrolled in college and college graduates. Finally, the study recommends that African nations should make the African Union a fully-fledged federal entity to be responsible for providing healthcare for the entire continent. The African Union should also represent all member states in the international community, including negotiating trade contracts or agreements.
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“Over the last 30 years, Africa's population has grown by 49% (33).”
From Oral health in Africa: a neglected public health priority (2026) · cites this paper as [33]
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Citations
Cites
Explaining fertility transitions
Mason, K. O. (1997) · Demography · doi:10.2307/3038299 · Cited by 540
A New Approach to Explaining Fertility Patterns: Preference Theory
Hakim, C. (2003) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2003.00349.x · Cited by 468
Global horse trading: IMF loans for votes in the United Nations Security Council
Dreher, A., Sturm, J., & Vreeland, J. R. (2009) · European Economic Review · doi:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2009.03.002 · Cited by 433
Global population trends and policy options
Ezeh, A., Bongaarts, J., & Mberu, B. U. (2012) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60696-5 · Cited by 315
Avoiding Conflicts over Africa's Water Resources
ASHTON, P. J. (2002) · AMBIO · doi:10.1579/0044-7447-31.3.236 · Cited by 196
Flores‐Macías, G. A., & Kreps, S. E. (2013) · The Journal of Politics · doi:10.1017/s0022381613000066 · Cited by 185
Zinkina, J., & Korotayev, A. (2014) · World Futures · doi:10.1080/02604027.2014.894868 · Cited by 67
Arku, G. (2009) · Urban Forum · doi:10.1007/s12132-009-9047-z · Cited by 57
Prospects for Fertility Decline in Africa
Casterline, J. B. (2017) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.1111/padr.12055 · Cited by 48
Rovin, K., Hardee, K., & Kidanu, A. (2013) · PubMed · Cited by 33
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Jargon, J. (2010). KFC Savors Potential in Africa. Wall Street Journal. http://volaray.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/KFC-sees-potential-in-Africa.pdf
- Kaba, A. J. (2007). The Two West Africans: The Two Historical Phases of the West African Brain Drain. Journal of Pan African Studies, 1, 77-92.
- Kaba, A. J. (2014). The Paradoxes of Africa’s Development: African Union’s Contributions to Africa’s Recent Achievements, 2005-2014. Journal of African Foreign Affairs, 1, 55-72.
- Kaba, A. J. (2016). Africa: Development Challenges and Possibilities. Austin, TX: Pan-African University Press.
- Weil, D. N. (2008). Is It Africa’s Turn? Rapid Population Growth Raises the Stakes for African Governments. Boston Review, 33, 16-17.
Cited by
An Overview of Plastic Waste Generation and Management in Food Packaging Industries
Ncube, L. K., Ude, A. U., Ogunmuyiwa, E. N., Zulkifli, R., & Beas, I. N. (2021) · Recycling · doi:10.3390/recycling6010012 · Cited by 647
Oral health in Africa: a neglected public health priority
Nwabunka, M., Sowunmi, A. O., Osadolor, U. E., Akinyosoye, A. D., Nnyanzi, L., Adeloye, D., & Zohoori, V. (2026) · Frontiers in Oral Health · doi:10.3389/froh.2026.1754189 · Cited by 4
Lira University, U., Achiro, E. D., Mwesigwa, D., & Lira University, U. (2023) · Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education · doi:10.35912/jshe.v3i2.1337 · Cited by 2
“The highest proportion (78%) of the country’s population is under 30 years of age (Kaba, 2020).”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Kaba, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Seton Hall University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kaba, Amadu Jacky
- ORCID
- Kaba, Amadu Jacky
- Venue
- Sociology Mind
- Publisher
- Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.
- Published
- 2020
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 04
- Pages
- 226-268
- ISSN
- 2160-083X (ISSN-L)
- 2160-0848
- OpenAlex
- W3097960012
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 8.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Sociology Mind (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- Social Sciences › Demography › Regional Socio-Economic Development Trends
- Keywords
- population growth, Africa, fertility rate, birth rate, contraceptive use, infant mortality, maternal mortality, life expectancy, HIV/AIDS, youth population, economic growth, African Union, healthcare policy, political influence
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Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
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