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Current growth forecasts assume that the population of Africa will grow from about
1.3 billion today to 2.5 billion in 2050 and to more than 4 billion by the end of
this century. The consequences of this uncontrolled growth for the living conditions
of the people concerned, for the societies in the African countries and for the environment
there are dramatic.
This is especially true for Malawi in south-east Africa. While fewer than 3 million
people lived there in 1950, today, at the end of 2024, there are already nearly 22
million, with the proportion of people under the age of 15 now standing at around
41%, under the age of 25 at ca. 63%. At the current population growth rate of over
2,7 %, Malawi will have up to 35 million people by 2050.
Malawi is thus not only one of the poorest countries in the world, but also one of
the countries with the highest population growth in Africa, with a birth rate of
32 children per 1000 people, combined with high infant and maternal mortality rates.
Malawi and the Consequences of Overpopulation
|
Indicators ( 2024 )
|
Malawi
|
|
population in Mio.
|
21,9 *
|
|
predicted population 2050
|
35
|
|
GNI per capita in US $
|
1820
|
|
anticipated average life time
|
72
|
|
birthrate per 1000 people
|
32
|
|
birthrate per woman
|
3,6
|
|
population growth rate
|
2,7
|
|
infant mortality per 1000 births
|
30
|
|
|
|
Today, Malawi lives mainly from the sale of agricultural products. As the population
grows, on the one hand, domestic consumption increases, and on the other hand, more
and more agricultural land has to be made available as living space for the growing
population. Both factors mean that the already desperately poor country is losing
its most important source of income. In addition, resource consumption and the associated
environmental pollution are increasing.
The Red List of Threatened Species now includes the Chambo, an edible fish whose
population in Lake Malawi is now on the verge of collapse, not least because of the
increasing food requirements of a rapidly growing population, one third of whose
nutrition depends on fishing in Lake Malawi. This shows as impressively the fatal
connection between the exploitation of available resources and growing poverty and
hunger.
Public institutions have already reached their limits. In schools, for example, the
target number of 60 pupils per teacher is already far exceeded and the national average
is over 100. In most hospitals, there is already a shortage of qualified medical
staff, especially doctors.
Database : Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung;
Population today (*)