In Kenya, as in many Western countries, women are also having fewer children than in previous years.
This is indicated by a report by the National Bureau of Statistics on behalf of the Ministry of Health, which points out that in eight years, from 2014 to 2022, there has been a decline from a birth rate of 3.9 children per mother to 3.4. This means that it will be easier for a woman aged 15 to 49 (the ages that are taken into account in Kenya) to have three children than four. If we consider that in 1989 statistics indicated an average of seven children per family, in 34 years the figures have more than halved.
While such a decline in Italy would cause concern, and already zeros with a comma are warning signs, the Kenyan government sees these figures as positive, because "increased access to family planning methods has reduced the total fertility rate. In addition, more women are delaying childbirth in search of higher levels of education." The Ministry of Health reports a significant improvement in maternal health indicators, with more women undergoing four or more prenatal visits for their last delivery, 66 percent in 2022 compared to 58 percent in 2014. In addition, eight out of 10 newborns were delivered in a health facility in 2022, up from six out of 10 recorded in 2014.
Ultimately, the government reassures Kenyans, telling them that they need not worry because the country's population will continue to grow. Also because 3.4 certainly does not mean the risk in the near future, of "zero growth."