RT Journal Article
SR 00
ID 10.1017/S0022278X16000409
A1 Stonawski, M.
A1 Potančoková, M.
A1 Cantele, M.
A1 Skirbekk, V.
T1 The changing religious composition of Nigeria: causes and implications of demographic divergence
JF The Journal of Modern African Studies
YR 2016
FD 2016
VO 54
IS 03
SP 361
OP 387
AB At nearly 170 million inhabitants, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country by twofold and fertility levels remain higher than most other sub-Saharan African nations. Throughout the last several decades, the fertility gap between Christians and Muslims has widened with significant political implications for a nascent democracy. Where the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) survey of 1990 revealed a non-significant difference of 0·3 children, this figure had increased to 2·3 children by 2013. As the total fertility rate (TFR) of Christians decreased significantly from 6·1 to 4·5 children per woman between 1990 and 2013, the TFR of Muslims increased from 6·4 to 6·8 children per woman. The timing of this divergence coincides with the formal institutionalization of Sharia law in 1999. We examine the role of religion on education, contraception and family behaviour. Finally, we touch upon the implications for population growth and the religious composition of Nigeria in the coming decades.
SN 0022-278X
LK https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/13485/