Report of the expert group meeting on fertility and mortality levels, patterns and trends in Africa and their policy implications

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper was to raise some fundamental issues which were considered important in the study of fertility and mortality in Africa. No attempt had therefore been made to give an over all picture of fertility and mortality levels and patterns in the continent in a general review of the situation, it was remarked that population was very important in African development in view of its dramatic rate of growth and the consequent large increments in existing populations. Population growth and its characteristics should be measured in order to assess their relevance to development planning in Africa; ECA had a leading part to play in that undertaking.