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Prospects for Economic Growth in Nigeria: A Demographic Perspective Nigeria: The Next Generation First Meeting of the Task Force Abuja, Nigeria December 4-5, 2009. Structure of the presentation. Salient facts describing Nigeria’s economy and population
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Prospects for Economic Growth in Nigeria:A Demographic PerspectiveNigeria: The Next GenerationFirst Meeting of the Task ForceAbuja, NigeriaDecember 4-5, 2009
Structure of the presentation • Salient facts describing Nigeria’s economy and population • The demographic dividend: theory and evidence • Is there a demographic dividend in Nigeria’s future?
Salient facts describing Nigeria’s economy and population
Nigeria’s economy has stagnated:No growth in income per capita Source: World Development Indicators, 2008
Indonesia and Pakistan have seen economic growth Source: World Development Indicators, 2008
Nigeria’s economy compared with world regions Source: World Development Indicators, 2008
Comparing economic growth rates average annual growth rate of GDP/capita (PPP), 1980 - 2006 Source: World Development Indicators, 2008
Nigeria’s population has grown rapidly Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Nigeria’s fertility rate has started to fall Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
The infant mortality rate has fallen, but not steadily Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Life expectancy has risen, but not steadily Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Crude birth and death rates are falling Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Population growth has been rapid Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
The ratio of working-age to non-working-age people has been pretty steady Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Changing age structure, 1950-2010:A 3-dimensional view Source: UN, World Population Prospects 2008
Education level varies by population group • Educational attainment remains quite low: • 37% of the population has no formal schooling • 47% is illiterate • Over 50% of Muslims and traditionalists have no formal schooling. • 50% of Christians have secondary or higher education. • Rural residents and those in the North have lower educational attainment.
Employment • Unemployment is well above 20%, except for those over age 35. • Unemployment doesn’t vary much by rural/urban residence. • It is highest among those with a secondary education (48%). • This group seems likely to be underemployed. • Women’s labor force participation lags far behind men’s.
Marriage, first birth, and contraception • Age at first marriage and first birth are higher • in the South • in urban areas • among those with higher levels of education, and • among Christians • Those who only use traditional or folkloric contraceptive methods have much higher fertility. • There is significant unmet need for contraception.
Fertility varies by population group Fertility rates are higher: • in the North • in rural areas • among those with less education • among the poor, and • among Muslims and traditionalists
What we’ve seen so far • Economics: • Low level of income • High inequality • Little or no economic growth • Demographics: • Rapid population growth • High fertility • Large population of young people
The demographic dividend: Theory and evidence
Average annual growth rate of GDP per capita, 1975-2005 Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2008
Changing age structure, 1960-2005 Source: UN, World Population Prospects
The Demographic Transition Populationgrowth rate Birth rate Death rate time
Population age structure is a robust and powerful predictor of economic growth Demographics Income One third (about 2 percentage points) of the growth of income per capita in East Asia during 1965-90 is attributable to the independent influence of changes in age structure.
Reaping the demographic dividend is not automatic, and may not be permanent • Demography is not destiny – it just creates potential • for economic growth and poverty reduction • and also, for social, political, and economic instability • March of the Silver-Haired Generation
Complementary policies • Need to catalyze demographic transition • Need to accelerate demographic transition – esp. fertility decline • Need compatible policies in other areas • education • health • labor market • trade • governance • macroeconomic management • Need good relationships with other countries
Is there a demographic dividend in Nigeria’s future?
Nigeria’s population is set to soar Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
The fertility rate is expected to continue falling Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
The infant mortality rate is projected to continue falling Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Life expectancy will continue to rise Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Crude birth and death rates will continue to fall Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Population growth rate will decline substantially Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
The ratio of working-age to non-working-age people is set to increase dramatically Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Growth of the working-age to non-working-age ratio, 1960-2050 (under 3 UN fertility scenarios) Source: UN, World Population Prospects 2008
The bottom line: demographic change can lead to economic growth
Comparing the growth rates of the working-age and non-working-age population Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Changing age structure, 1960-2050:Nigeria compared with Indonesia and Pakistan Source: UN, World Population Prospects 2008
Changing age structure, 1960-2050:Nigeria compared with East Asia Source: UN, World Population Prospects 2008
The size of the 60+ population will increase dramatically Source: UN, World Population Prospects, 2008
Reaping the demographic dividend:cautionary points regarding Nigeria • Not all of the general points about the factors needed to realize the demographic dividend necessarily apply to Nigeria. • In particular: • Trade policy is important, but it may be more important to focus on diversification of the economy away from dependence on oil exports. • Minimum wage laws and unions may affect only a small portion of Nigeria’s labor market.
Take-home messages • Demography matters. • Demography matters a lot. • There is potentially a sizeable demographic dividend in Nigeria’s future. But, will Nigeria collect this dividend?