The Basics
Demographic data can tell you a lot about a country and its people. Who they are and whether they are educated, well-fed, healthy, and able to live a long and prosperous life. This information shows you where a country has been – but also where it’s going. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries will double in population by 2050, due in part to high fertility rates and improving mortality rates. By that time, one in four people on earth will live in Africa.
Fertility Rate
Measures the average number of children a woman will have, assuming she lives from birth until the end of her reproductive life.
Life Expectancy
Indicates the average number of years a newborn could expect to live. This provides a snapshot of population health and mortality. High life expectancy is generally associated with good healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, and other socioeconomic conditions.
Poverty and access to resources
Living in poverty is about more than money. It reflects someone’s access to resources that enable them to live a healthy life, go to school or work, and grow old with dignity. This section includes the traditional measure of poverty in economic terms.
Population living below the international poverty line
If someone lives on less than $2.15 per person per day, they fall below the international poverty line. This figure is calculated based on the value of goods needed to sustain one adult.
Food security and hunger
Hunger is the most visible indicator of poverty. Every one of us needs food to stay alive and healthy, and families will almost always prioritise food over other expenses. So when they can’t afford to eat, you know they are in crisis. Hunger is an umbrella term used to mean several different things. This section explores some of the most common measures of hunger and what they mean.
Child stunting
Stunting means that children are smaller than expected for their age. It is typically a sign of long-term micronutrient deficiency. Stunting often has lifelong consequences because it impacts childrens’ cognitive and physical development.
Child wasting
Wasting means that children have a low weight for their height. It is typically a sign of recent and severe weight loss, due to food insecurity or infectious disease.
Prevalence of undernourishment
Someone is undernourished if they are not able to acquire enough food to meet the daily minimum dietary energy requirements, over a period of one year.
Health
Where you live shouldn’t determine whether you live, but too often it does. Lower-income countries are home to a majority of the global burden of disease, yet make up a small proportion of global health spending. This means people in the most vulnerable countries, including mothers and children, continue to die from preventable and treatable diseases.
Infant Mortality
The likelihood of newborn infant deaths before the age of 1 year, per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality rate can be associated with access to healthcare, clean water, and sanitation as well as infectious diseases, malnutrition and vaccination coverage.