To be stunned that there were more births in Nigeria in 2024 than the entirety of Europe and Russia combined?

[Eloueesy]

I knew the birth rate was declining in western societies but that figure sounds crazy.

Developed countries are simply too expensive for large families. Childcare full time for me is £1600 a month for one child.

Well OP has vanished and AI is notoriously incorrect.

Shame OP could not be arsed posting a link before plopping and running.

Birth rates are collapsing globally. Not just in developed countries.

But @Kendodd , they live such a deprived life - devoid of any human comfort and dignity.

Besides suffering from war trauma, they are hungry most of the time, thirsty most of the time, afraid most of time. Most are probably grieving.

I can really see how there would be solice in sex. There is surely no contraception.

And yes, as suggested above, there is probably also coercion and sexual assault.

Pretty terrifying to be honest

I watched Michael Palin (or someone similar) visit an African country - dozens of young people earning pennies rowing people up and down the river - the lad was one of thirteen siblings, his father a tribal chief with several wives. So poor. Uneducated - what future?

Why?

Do you think it’s a good thing? Something to be celebrated?

I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I don’t think it’s a good thing.

I think birth rates are an entirely neutral thing. So back to my question? Why is it “terrifying”?

I agree

I have a number of Nigerian colleagues and it wasn’t until I got to know them and had discussions around politics that I gave much thought to cultures across sub Saharan Africa. I knew a little about South Africa but other than than very little

I’m amused to hear colleagues from other west Africa countries opinions and how it mirrors just how we are in Europe 😆

I don’t think terrifying is the right word. I do think it’s concerning for a number of reasons which centre around existing children.

Unemployment (especially youth unemployment) is high, the labour market can not absorb the millions off new entrants every year. A lack of jobs causes a high level of poverty and endemic drug use.

Whilst education is mandatory there’s around 28 million children and adolescents (that stat blows my mind) who aren’t receiving an education. Girls are often removed from education and married off. More than 40% of girls are married before 18, over 10% under 15. It seems to me that there are many children being failed currently and the high birth rate is compounding Nigeria’s problems.

That person said it was “terrifying” so I wanted to know why. (I wonder if Nigerians feel it is terrifying. Really their’s is the only opinion that matters.)

Not in Nigeria, absolutely not!

Why do you presume these parents are under terrible circumstances?! In Gaza yes it’s surprising (but also I suspect limited access to birth control) but people have done this forever. Nigerian families aren’t living in some terrible poverty grubbing in the mud!

Nigeria’s own statistics say that over 40% of the population is suffering from monetary poverty. Over 60% suffers from multi dimensional poverty unable to be access resources such as healthcare, clean water or education. This increases to over 90% for rural children.

I’m not saying there isn’t wealth in Nigeria (it’s the third biggest economy in Africa) but there is a lot of inequality and poverty too.

I think the point was

a) For people who have only experienced poverty that’s their norm
b) I doubt people living in abject poverty have widespread access to effective contraception.
c) For people living in poverty children are often seen as a necessary support for old age.

Its almost as though people can not see beyond their own comfortable bubble

Well the poverty rate for one thing. The corruption. Lack of education. Different moral standards. I don’t think it’s a good thing.

Poverty potentially but they could also argue high birth rates are a protection from poverty (especially in older years).

Corruption and birth rates have nothing to do with each other. Ditto lack of education. Lack of education is an issue in and of itself. I have no idea what different moral standards means or why that makes the Nigerian birth rate “terrible”. Different moral standards exists in every single country as people are not monolithic (even less so I imagine in Nigeria which is an amalgamation of many different nations.)

I would disagree with you there. Education is a huge factor in child birth rates. In Nigeria a university educated woman is having 2.7 less ( on average) children than her uneducated counterpart. Education delays marriage and therefore age of first pregnancy for girls. It also had the effect of turning children from an asset from which you can make money into a burden which you need to invest in.

I don’t apply moral standards but I think a high birth rate is indicative of things that are objectively negative. Low education, a lack of access to healthcare, child marriage, high infant mortality, poverty, child labour.

This isn’t uniform across Nigeria and the birth rate is much higher in rural, poorer areas especially where education has been further disrupted by insurgent activity.

I would also say Nigeria had the highest concentration of millionaires / billionaires of Africa which I think raises a prima favour case for better wealth redistribution through taxation and improved services.

I don't think it's that we want smaller families. Lots of people simply cannot afford the number of children they want due to the following:

Nursery fees.
Breakfast clubs
After-school clubs (DH and I have jobs that don't work around school hours).
Housing costs as there is an expectation for each child to have their own bedroom.
Helping with potential uni costs.
Worry about future job prospects due to AI.
Worry about financial situation due to ever growing benefit bill.
Worry about safety due to reasons I won't say out loud.

I definitely would've wanted at least one more kid.

You misunderstand me. I did not day education has no impact on birth rates. I was questioning why lack of education necessarily makes a high birth rate terrifying. Lack of education strikes me as a separate problem to fix.

I just don’t understand why a country’s birth rate would be viewed as terrifying by anybody who does not live there.