INTRODUCTION
In this presentation the global trends of youthful population will be shown using the sub-Saharan countries, Mali and
Niger. It’s important to look at these trends and how they may have been caused so we can be more educated on reversing problems that arise with youthful populations.
Also with certain information it can be predicted how the country’s population pyramid will look in the next few decades if it carries on at the same rate or if changes are made what lasting affect they will have. Youthful populations is especially prevalent in Asia and Africa where it is expected to rise still.
YOUTHFUL POPULATION MAP
Mali Niger
The red areas show the countries with a younger population, the yellow more even populated areas and the green an aging population
YOUTHFUL PATTERNS
For Countries in Central Africa, most of the population is poor and as a result having many children at an early age because: •
They need someone to carry on the family name
•
To have someone to in a stable position to look after them in their old age when they cant work anymore. It’s more economically logical in a poor/developing country.
•
Families are had at significantly younger ages (teens to early twenties) because it’s a social norm and setting up your career isn’t as big a priority as it is in aging populations (In aging populations career comes before starting a family instead of the other way round for youthful populations).
•
Youthful populations tend to be less industrialized than aging populations.
MALI AND NIGER
These patterns are shown in the countries of Central Africa,
Mali and Niger which are both in the top three for most youthful populations in the world (The following information is based on sub-Saharan African countries) . The most supported trend is the the worse off the economy the more likely a country will be a youthful. The countries cannot provide as much to encourage family and career planning.
For Niger, women have an average of 7.6 children and Mali women, 6.3. For both countries nearly half of the population are teens and younger. High fertility plays a big a role to a youthful population. Having many young people in a country won’t help in addressing the major poverty problem which in turn keeps the country youthful, it goes in a cycle: The poorer the country, the more youthful it will be.
MALI POPULATION PYRAMID
NIGER POPULATION PYRAMID
GENDER TRENDS
In sub-Saharan African countries, women still have the traditional role of starting and looking after the family where the husband will usually be the source of income.
This is the because of the availability of education for women, even if they are able to go to school – an employer would choose a male over a female. The wives often stay home where they prepare meals and clean. In developed countries gender doesn’t have as big of an influence on what you’ll be doing for the rest of your life. In 2012 it was found that 18% of births in sub-Saharan African are had at
15 to 19. Which brings up another factor, that these countries can’t prevent pregnancies like developed countries because they don’t have the resources. In conclusion, the less equal it is for male and females the more likely it is a youthful population.
WEST AFRICAN CHILD BRIDES
Some west African girls unwillingly get married as young as 14 to be married to men double their age. It’s common for these girls to get pregnant not long after, have the baby and be left by the husband to raise the child as a single mother.
The parents often sell their daughters to marriage because this as a seen as a way of getting a profit out of the less useful gender. These young single mothers will be uneducated and it will usually stay that way as they become too busy raising a child and earning a low income in order to get by. Without an education getting a reliable
