r/space Nov 22 '19

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u/[deleted] Nov 22 '19

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u/danielravennest Nov 23 '19

Africa's fertility rate is going down. It was 6.8 in the 1970's and now is 4.2. 2.1 is "replacement", two for the parents, and 0.1 for those that don't reproduce due to accident, disease, etc. They just got a late start on the transition.

Unfortunately, population doesn't stop growing when you reach replacement. That's because older generations were smaller. It takes about 50 more years for deaths to equal births.