Population projections and national development planning in Africa

Abstract

The perception of the problems of population growth appears to be changing in Africa. For a long time the view that Africa was under-populated and that population growth could spur or at least not jeopardize economic development enjoyed currency. However, according to a 1981 survey by the United Nations Population Division in New York, on Governments perception of the effects of natural increase on development. The use of population projections in national development plans and programmes is one important way by which population measures can be integrated in social and economic development planning.