World Bank Supports Tanzania in Overcoming Demographic Challenges for Growth
Speaking in the port city of Dar es Salaam at the launch of the World Bank's 20th Tanzania Economic Update, the World Bank's Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Nathan Belete, said the bank believed that investing in the health, education and skills of young people will provide a solid foundation for a thriving future.
Belete said that over the past few decades, Tanzania has experienced a gradual decline in fertility rates. Despite this, he said that the population growth rate remains high, currently standing at 3 percent.
At this rate, the population is projected to double in 23 years, placing increased demand on essential services such as health and education, he said, adding that this demand is expected to surpass the economy's capacity to provide these services and create sufficient jobs and opportunities.
He stressed the critical need for a renewed commitment to family planning, urging the government to enhance child survival interventions and reduce stunting rates. By doing so, parents would feel more confident in choosing to have fewer children, he said.
The Tanzania Economic Update is the World Bank's biannual report that reviews Tanzania's macroeconomic developments and identifies evolving opportunities and potential risks.
4155/v
