The impact of Africa’s future demographic dividend depends on numerous economic variables that are easily projectable but easily susceptible to change. An in-depth analysis is needed to fully understand the future potential of the African economy while factoring a range of possibilities in the economy. When looking at the expected population pyramids of Sub Saharan Africa and comparing it to that of developed area like Europe, we begin to see dramatic differences between the two regions. As of 2016, Sub Saharan Africa’s population pyramid currently displays the attributes of a stage 2 country in the demographic transition model where majority of the population is under 15 and is dependent on others until they going the working population
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Population Pyramid, Sub-Saharan Africa (2016). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2016, 2015)
Figure 2. Population Pyramid, Europe (2016). (Europe 2016, 2015)
As time progresses to 2100, we begin to see a shift in the African population, their working age population begins to grow (Figure 3) while Europe’s working age beings to decrease (Figure 4). With declining death rates and longer life expectancies in Sub Saharan Africa, it is beginning to emerge as region with economic potential. African begins to transition into a stage 3 of transition model where population starts expanding, they begin to show potential for economic growth and development (Figure 5 & 6).
Figure 3. Population Pyramid, Sub-Saharan Africa (2100). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2100, 2015).
Figure 4. Population Pyramid, Europe (2100). (Europe 2100, 2015)
Figure 5. Population Pyramid, Comparing Africa (2100). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2100, 2015).
Figure 6. Demographic Transition Model, Comparing Africa (2100). (Coppack, 2016) The World Bank’s goal is to eliminate extreme poverty from the world and have more than 97% of the population earning more than $1.90 a day (World Bank, 2013). If the World Bank wants to reach its goal of eliminating poverty, then Sub Saharan Africa is a crucial area needed to be addressed. According to the World Bank, Sub Saharan African poverty rate currently measures at 42.7% in 2012 with 388 million earning under $1.90 a day (Figure …show more content…
While growth in this region is almost inevitable for the next few decades, the real challenge will be if the African government can put in to place effective and beneficial policy to grow their population and maintain it after the population boom. The African governments need to start improving; infrastructure, health care and education, if they want to maintain their economic growth and make it sustainable for many years. Without improving the way of life, their economy will freeze and eventually collapse. Policy makers need to evaluate a strategy to bring the African economy out of the agriculture sector and into the manufacturing sector, similar to what Asian countries have done in the last several years. Investing in education, implies that the next generation of workers will have better human capital and training when they enter the workforce in the future relative to the current and previous generation of
Population Pyramid, Sub-Saharan Africa (2016). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2016, 2015)
Figure 2. Population Pyramid, Europe (2016). (Europe 2016, 2015)
As time progresses to 2100, we begin to see a shift in the African population, their working age population begins to grow (Figure 3) while Europe’s working age beings to decrease (Figure 4). With declining death rates and longer life expectancies in Sub Saharan Africa, it is beginning to emerge as region with economic potential. African begins to transition into a stage 3 of transition model where population starts expanding, they begin to show potential for economic growth and development (Figure 5 & 6).
Figure 3. Population Pyramid, Sub-Saharan Africa (2100). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2100, 2015).
Figure 4. Population Pyramid, Europe (2100). (Europe 2100, 2015)
Figure 5. Population Pyramid, Comparing Africa (2100). (Sub-Saharan Africa 2100, 2015).
Figure 6. Demographic Transition Model, Comparing Africa (2100). (Coppack, 2016) The World Bank’s goal is to eliminate extreme poverty from the world and have more than 97% of the population earning more than $1.90 a day (World Bank, 2013). If the World Bank wants to reach its goal of eliminating poverty, then Sub Saharan Africa is a crucial area needed to be addressed. According to the World Bank, Sub Saharan African poverty rate currently measures at 42.7% in 2012 with 388 million earning under $1.90 a day (Figure …show more content…
While growth in this region is almost inevitable for the next few decades, the real challenge will be if the African government can put in to place effective and beneficial policy to grow their population and maintain it after the population boom. The African governments need to start improving; infrastructure, health care and education, if they want to maintain their economic growth and make it sustainable for many years. Without improving the way of life, their economy will freeze and eventually collapse. Policy makers need to evaluate a strategy to bring the African economy out of the agriculture sector and into the manufacturing sector, similar to what Asian countries have done in the last several years. Investing in education, implies that the next generation of workers will have better human capital and training when they enter the workforce in the future relative to the current and previous generation of