Ethiopia and the demographic dividend

• Since 2000, Ethiopia has made very good progress in improving the health and development of its people.
• Infant and maternal mortality are on the decline.
• Literacy has nearly doubled.
• Women’s reproductive health has increased greatly.
• Among married women, use of modern contraceptive methods grew from 6% in 2000 to 27% in 2012.
• Women are now having on average 4.8 children, compared with 6.5 a decade ago.
• In Addis Ababa, the capital, women on average have just over two children.
• Ethiopia will have to increase investment in meeting family planning needs to create the age structure needed for a demographic dividend.
• More than 40% of the population is under age 15.
• The population pyramid in 2010 is still dominated by a large base of young people.
• Ethiopia remains nearly two decades away from a possible demographic dividend.