Rural-Urban Population Age and Sex Composition in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2018) Population and Development Review — Vol. 44, n° 1, p. 7-35 (2018)
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- Abstract
- Population age structures act both to support and constrain key aspects of development, ranging from demographic dividends to civil violence. Despite recognition of the crucial role played by national age and sex structures, the rural/urban perspective remains sorely neglected. This study explores how differential rural/urban natural increase, interacting with rural-to-urban migration, creates profound gaps in population age and sex structures across sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa. We calculate sector-specific dependency and sex ratios using United Nations data from 45 Sub-Saharan African countries between 1980 and 2015 to probe the extent of the rural/urban age and sex structure gaps. Results indicate that these gaps are predictable by stage of demographic transition. Rural-to-urban migration of young adults plays an important role in explaining the gaps between the sectors. Our results highlight the value of accounting for local age and sex structures to better prepare for the consequences of demographic shifts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Affiliations
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Citations
Menashe Oren, A., & Stecklov, G. (2018). Rural-Urban Population Age and Sex Composition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population and Development Review, 44(1), 7-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12122 (Original work published 2018)