The Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Carla Fernandes Louveira, stressed the urgency of adopting measures to deal with the country’s growing population, climate change and terrorism, the e-Global news portal reported on Wednesday 8 May.
Data from the United Nations (UN) Population Fund shows that almost 80% of the Mozambican population is under 35 years of age and around 50% is under 16 years of age.
During the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development, which took place at the United Nations headquarters between 29 April and 3 May, the government representative indicated that the country’s rapid population growth and demographic situation pose several long-term challenges.
‘Around 50% of the population is under the age of 16, which means that the dependency rate is quite high, leading to serious challenges in terms of how to maximise the gains from the demographic dividend, i.e. reducing the dependency of the economically inactive population on the active population. There is a need for greater effort in terms of Gross Domestic Product growth to compensate for the accelerated growth that our population is experiencing.’
Carla Fernandes Louveira
Despite recognising the progress made in terms of infant mortality, life expectancy and the literacy rate, the source stressed that climate change and terrorism are slowing down the country’s progress.
‘Mozambique is one of the countries subject to climate change. In recent years, the country has experienced various climatic effects, whether droughts or cyclones. This year, in particular, we had cyclone Filipo. Last year we had Cyclone Freddy, among many other climatic effects that also require the resources of the state. The terrorism we’re seeing in the north of the country is also eating into funding needs.’
Carla Fernandes Louveira
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) met at the United Nations in New York (USA) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994.
