Kenya: The Effects of an
Increasing Population
Heather Condon, Caroline Keng,
Taylor Webb
Background Information
• Why should population growth be
lowered in developing nations?
– Poor economic success
– Deterioration of social services
– Decline in ecological systems
Figure 1: Population Growth Rate – Kenya
A Comparison of the percentage growth rates in Kenya from 20002005. (Index Mundi 2005)
The History of Family
Planning Policies in Kenya
• 1962 – formation of Family Planning Association
of Kenya (FPAK)
– Goals: make contraceptives available to the majority
of the female population, educate the general public
on Planned Parenthood, create family care centers
and clinics in at least every major city
– Reasons for policy failure: lack of enthusiasm people
had for smaller family sizes , religious beliefs, social
structure, spiritual and economic rewards
Objectives
• Examine the economic, societal, and
environmental impacts Kenya’s large pop
has on it’s country
• Provide recommendations for new policy
initiatives
Economic Impacts
• Corruption
• No foreign investment
• Why Kenya should be economically
successful
– Mombassa Port
– Landscape
Figure 2: Population Pyramid for Kenya
The actual distribution of Kenyans in 2000. (U.S. Census Bureau
2000)
Figure 3: Population Pyramid for Kenya
The predicted distribution of Kenyans in 2025. (U.S. Census Bureau
2000)
Figure 4: Population Pyramid for Kenya
The predicted distribution of Kenyans in 2050. (U.S. Census Bureau
2000)
Societal Impacts
•
•
•
•
Increase in poverty
Increase in female mortality rate
Lack of access to health care
Decrease women’s opportunity for
education
Figure 5: Proportion of Kenyans with No Formal Education
The difference in percentages of males who have no formal
education is far less than females, especially as the population gets
older. (Karani 1987, 424)
Environmental Impacts
• Loss in biodiversity (overfishing)
• Deforestation and desertification
African Catfish
African Lungfish
Figure 6: Number of Threatened Fish and Plants in Eastern Africa
Kenya’s large population leads to a high number in biodiversity species
(namely fish and vegetation). (ArcGIS 2006)
Conclusion
• A decrease in population growth rates will
affect …
– Infant mortality rate
– Adult literacy rate
– Per capita income
– Life expectancy
Our Solution
• Have policies be revolved around …
– EDUCATION
– Giving women more power/voice
– Change traditional beliefs
– Incentives
References
•
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•
Brown, L. “Slender African Lungfish”. 2003. <http://www.whozoo.org/Anlife99/lashawn/DTU_an2.jpg> (6April 2006)
•
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•
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•
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References
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Karani, F.A. 1987. The Situation and Roles of Women in Kenya: An Overview. JSTOR. The Journal of Negro Education. 56: 422-434
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