Explaining Africa’s Rapid Population Growth, 1950 to 2020: Trends, Factors, Implications, and Recommendations

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.

For sub-Saharan Africa, Ezeh et al. (2012) point out that its population will increase from 0.86 billion in 2010 to 1.96 billion in 2050, a 129% increase during that period. For the world as a whole, the figures are 6.9 billion to 9.31 billion, respectively, a 35% increase during that period (p. 145; also see "The 2015 Revision of the UN's World Population Projections", 2015: pp. 257-259;Zuberi et al., 2003: pp. 468-469). The total population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to be 4 billion at the end of the twenty-first century (Casterline, 2017: p. 5). According to Clapham (2006): "Sub-Saharan Africa stands firmly at one end of the demographic and development continuum. Demographically, it ranks highest in the world in its recent level of population increase, at 2.5 percent per annum over the period 1990-2003, though this marks a decrease from the 2.9 percent of the previous decade" (p. 96). According to Table A2(a)-(f), in 2020, the average population growth rate in Africa was 2.5 percent. The following African nations had population growth rates of 3% or higher: 3.66% in Niger; 3.43% in Angola; 3.4% in Benin; 3.34% in Uganda; 3.3% in Malawi; 3.3% in Mayotte (2010 estimate); and 3.18% each in Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These three countries accounted for 12.6% (168.6 million) of Africa's total population.

Factors Responsible for Africa's Rapid Population Growth
There are many interrelated factors that have contributed to the rapid and consistent growth of Africa's population from 1950 to 2020. Many of these interrelated factors are demographic, while others are educational. Combined, these interrelated factors have come to be the engine behind Africa's rapid and massive population growth in the post-World War era. The interrelated factors are as follows: high crude birth rates; high fertility rates; childbirth at a young age; low rates of contraceptive use in most African nations; decline in infant mortality rates; decline in maternal mortality rates; decline in overall death rates; increase in life expectancy; and decline in HIV/AIDS related deaths. These interrelated demographic, social, and economic factors provide a comprehensive explanation for Africa's rapid and massive population growth in the post-World War II era. No thorough explanation can be presented for this phenomenon without these factors presented below.

High Crude Birth Rates
Although the crude birth rates in African nations have been gradually decreasing in recent decades, they are still relatively high compared with other regions of the world and the world average. It is noted that 134 million children are born annually in the world (Baar, 2013: p. 33

High Total Fertility Rates
Like the crude birth rates, the total fertility rates (children born per woman) in

Childbirth at a Young Age
Another significant factor that has contributed to Africa's rapid population growth is that females have children at a relatively young age. As a result, females tend to have time to have more children, compared with someone who has a first child in their mid to late thirties or early forties. For example, in

Low Rates of Contraceptive Use in Most African Nations
Another important factor that has contributed to the rapid and massive population growth in Africa is that the contraceptive use in most nations across the continent is relatively low, meaning that family planning policies are not as pre-

Decline in Infant Mortality Rates
Infant mortality rates in African countries were once very high, but they have been steadily declining, even though they continue to be substantially higher than many regions of the world. These declines in infant mortality rates have contributed to the rapid growth of Africa's population. Infant mortality rates in African nations continue to be higher for males than their female counterparts.

Decline in Maternal Mortality Rates
Another important factor that has contributed to the rapid and massive population growth in Africa is the gradual decline in maternal mortality rates in Afri-

Decline in the Overall Death Rates
The overall death rates in African countries have declined substantially in the past several decades. This phenomenon has directly contributed to the rapid growth in Africa's total population.

Decline in HIV/AIDS Related Deaths in Sub-Saharan African Nations
There is a substantial decline in the HIV/AIDS related deaths in sub-Sharan

Implications of this Phenomenon
There are a number of interrelated implications as a result of the massive population growth in Africa from 1950 to 2020. Some might argue that some of these implications may have resulted in at least part of the massive population growth during this post-World War II period. One implication, as a result of the growth in Africa's population is the gradual increase in Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), GDP per capita, and the rise in the numbers of billionaires and millionaires in Africa, especially in the past two decades. When a population becomes so large, with over 1 billion people, the potential for individuals to accumulate wealth as entrepreneurs or businessmen and businesswomen becomes high be- and $2268 for Eastern Africa (Tables A4(a)-(f)). According to The Wealth Report (2020), in 2014, there were 30 billionaires in Africa, with at least $1 billion. In 2019, that figure dropped to 22. In 2014, there were 242,765 Africans in Africa with at least $1 million. In 2019, that figure increased to 302,360, a 25% increase ("The Wealth Report", 2020: pp. 104-105; also see Kaba, 2015: p. 26;Kaba, 2017). Forbes Magazine reports that: "Africa's billionaires are as a group richer than a year ago. Altogether, the continent's 20 billionaires are worth a combined $73.4 billion, up from $68.7 billion a year ago" ("Africa's Richest 2020", 2020, February 6).
Another implication of Africa's massive population growth is the rise in political influence in the international community of Africa or African countries acting as a block at global institutions such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO) or the International Monetary Fund (IMF). African countries represent a substantial proportion of these world bodies. As a result, world powers such as the United States, China and Russia compete regularly for support from African countries on important world issues (Brooke, 2007;Dreher et al., 2009;Flores-Macías & Kreps, 2013;Hendricks, 2017;Hwang et al., 2015). According to Brookes (2007):

Recommendations
African people and their governments need to protect the achievements they have made with their population growth, wealth accumulation, educational attainment and rising influence in international relations and politics. Their massive population growth in the post-World War II era is the primary reason for these achievements. In order to maintain and build on these important achievements, African people and their governments need to consider a number of recommendations.
One recommendation is for African nations to seriously consider making the African Union a fully-fledged state, with central powers. A fully-fledged federal African Union, with a population of over 1.3 billion people will be in a stronger position to protect the interests and well-being of all member states at home and abroad. Many African nations have signed long-term contracts in trade with foreign nations that put these African nations at a disadvantage. Only a federal African Union can be in the powerful position to change the terms of those bad trade agreements (Kaba, 2005(Kaba, , 2009a(Kaba, , 2014 & Nkweti-Kaba, 2020). To maintain these relatively low obesity figures, African nations need to carefully monitor their caloric consumption, which is a primary factor for the obesity epidemic in the United States. This is especially as African nations continue to get wealthier. For example, in 1961, the average calorie con- Union would also attach hospitals or medical centers to a high number of established universities across the continent. Finally, the African Union would strategically distribute medical personnel, including those recruited from the diaspora at these newly established hospitals and medical centers across the continent (Kaba, 2006: pp. 55-63;2009a: pp. 104-110;2014: pp. 65-67).
Giving a fully-fledged African Union the responsibility to conduct trade and provide universal healthcare for the citizens of member countries will have the potential to speed up the development of the continent. Leaders within member countries will be in the position to redirect or reallocate resources to other important sectors of their states since they no longer will have the responsibility to provide healthcare to their citizens or residents. These leaders will also save substantial amount of time because the African Union will be responsible to negotiate international trade contracts on behalf of all member countries.

Conclusion
This study began by presenting an overview of the massive increase in Africa's population, relative to other parts of the world, rapidly growing from 228.  member states of the African Union make it a fully-fledged federal union in order for it to represent the interests of all member states in the international community, and also for it to implement a universal healthcare system within the entire content.

Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.