The world’s population growth has decreased by about a third in the last 30 years, according to a study by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW). The reason for this decline is the decrease in the birth rate, which has dropped from 3.2 children per woman in 1990 to 2.3 children per woman today. The current world population is 7.9 billion people, with significant differences between countries. African countries south of the Sahara have the highest birth rate, with 4.7 children per woman. Experts attribute this to the economic situation, where children are seen as a form of retirement savings, and a lack of modern contraception, which leads to many teenage pregnancies.
In countries with high incomes, such as Germany, the birth rate is lower, averaging 1.8 children per woman. However, teenage pregnancies still occur, and the DSW is calling for a stronger fight against unwanted teenage pregnancies. According to the DSW’s publication, “thousands of girls fall into a poverty spiral every year due to early pregnancies.” In Germany, teenage pregnancies account for only one percent of all births, while in African countries south of the Sahara, they are responsible for 16 percent of all births. Half of these teenage pregnancies are due to the lack of access to contraception, which denies young people the right to decide whether or not to have a child.
The DSW’s study highlights the need for increased access to modern contraception in developing countries to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and help break the cycle of poverty. The organization is calling for a global effort to provide young people with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. As Jan Kreutzberg, the DSW’s CEO, notes, “early pregnancies can have a devastating impact on the lives of young girls, and we must do everything we can to prevent them.” By addressing the root causes of teenage pregnancies, we can help ensure a brighter future for young people around the world.
