The State of African demography

This publication on the current status of African demography was prepared for the Third African Population Conference of the IUSSP held in Dakar Senegal in 1988. Following an initial introduction it consists of eight chapters by various authors on aspects of African demography. "The chapters are devoted to data collection; to fertility [including family planning] and the underlying continuity and change in the African family; to mortality levels the health situation in Africa and the possible impact of crises [such as famine]; and to migration and urbanization. A final chapter reviews the problems of training and research in Africa as a basis for improving the study of the demography of the region and our understanding of the relations between population and development." The primary geographic focus is on Africa South of the Sahara. The publication is also available in French. (EXCERPT)