Overpopulation in Africa

•African families average 6 children

•One-half of population is less than 16 years old

•Population of Africa will double in 25 years

•Reasons people have large families:

-- Help with chores and family’s work

-- Support for parents in their old age

-- Status - traditionally the bigger the family, the more important the man is

-- Polygamy (more than one wife per man) - allows all women to marry (wives with more children inherit more)

11 wives, 77 children

King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, 70 wives and 210 children born between 1920 and 1970

-- Girls marry very young, more reproductive years

-- Little knowledge and availability of birth control

-- Abortion is against the law throughout Africa

-- Tribes want to stay large and strong politically