Nearly 50 percent of Africans still live in poverty even though countries are becoming richer. The growth in Africa’s population in the last decade has not been accompanied by the necessary structural transformation nor has it translated into equitable human development and improved livelihoods. In an attempt to address this and other challenges, the world’s population scientists and government policymakers will converge in Cape Town for the International Population Conference from 29 October to 4 November 2017.

We are confronted with a global, an African and a South African population crisis

The congress of about 2 000 population scientists, policymakers, civic organisation and government leaders from 131 countries will deliberate on world poverty, mortality, life expectancy, HIV and AIDS, access to education and employment, mental and sexual health, policy challenges in Africa, and migration, amongst many other population and development issues.

South Africa’s Statistician-General, Dr Pali Lehohla, says the conference seeks to achieve prosperity in place of poverty, education in place of illiteracy, full opportunities for the next generations of children in place of current limitations and guide how world governments duly re-look at population policies as a collective. “We are confronted with a global, an African and a South African population crisis in as far as the population situation in many African countries continues to contribute to or detract from their chances of realising the goals of development, not only for the current generation but also for future generations”.