Main content

How Will a Population Boom Change Africa?

The UN says the number of people living in Africa will double in 35 years. There are fears about the impact of a demographic explosion. But it could be a good news story.

The UN forecasts that the number of people living in Africa will double in the next 35 years. Nigeria, the fastest-growing nation, is expected to become the third-largest country in the world by 2050. By the end of the century, almost 40% of the world’s population will live on this one continent. It raises questions about how countries – some of which are already facing big challenges – will cope with twice the number of inhabitants in just one generation. There are fears about the impact a demographic explosion will have on health, society and the environment. But others say Africa’s population boom could turn out to be a good news story. How will a population boom change Africa? Ruth Alexander investigates.

(Photo: Onitsha-Asaba Highway. Credit: Pius Utomi Ekpei/Getty Images)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Dec 2015 03:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 02:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 03:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 04:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 05:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 07:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 13:06GMT
  • Tue 22 Dec 2015 14:06GMT
  • Sun 27 Dec 2015 03:06GMT

Featured in...

Podcast