KABUL, 14 July 2008 (IRIN) - Ramesh Penumaka, UNFPA's country representative, said the average Afghan woman gives birth to 6-7 children and if this trend were to continue Afghanistan's current estimated population of 26 million would surpass 56 million by 2050.
“If the fertility rates are not reduced, Afghanistan's population will more than double by 2050; from 47th most populous country, Afghanistan would become the 31st most populous country in the world,” Penumaka said.
A substantial increase in the population rate would more than double demand for land and water, exacerbate pressure on the infrastructure and adversely affect the environment, experts said.
“Continued rapid population growth poses a bigger threat to poverty reduction in most countries than HIV/AIDS,” the UNFPA said in a statement on World Population Day, 11 July.
The UNFPA said slower population growth would help the least developed countries like Afghanistan to invest properly in children's health, education and progress, and reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate, as well as HIV infection rates.
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