Population Dynamics and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The study examines the effect of population dynamics (mortality and fertility) on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa from 1970 to 2005, using the five year average. The study focused on sub-Saharan Africa because the region is faced with a unique feature of high population growth and low economic growth when compared with other regions of the world. The study used the pooled OLS and the dynamic panel data analysis to estimate the variables, involving thirty-five countries in the sub-Saharan Africa. The results show that total fertility rate had a negative impact on economic growth while, life expectancy at birth had a positive influence on economic growth. The region needs to address the high population growth in order to have a sustainable economic development.

Keywords: population, mortality, life expectancy, fertility