Rwandans will not need outsiders to help in stabilising the country’s population size despite a survey indicating that there is drop in fertility among Rwandan women.
According to the ‘Integrated Households Living Condition Survey (EICV4)’ released on September 14, the fertility rate among Rwandan women declined to 4.2 children from 6.1 children between 2005 and 2014.
However, economists argue the current fertility rate is still alarming. Rwanda is Africa’s second most populated country looking forward to reach a middle income status by 2020.
“Fertility has slowed by one third in the last ten years, but on this I differ slightly with some people, please don’t slow too much,” President Paul Kagame noted while launching the survey report.
President Kagame while briefing leaders while launching the fourth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Kigali yesterday. Kagame saluted the people of Rwanda for their resilience over the past two decades.
The president also said, “It’s a question of balance. Otherwise, we shouldn’t want to rely on importing people from outside. In balancing, please make sure that we get it right.”
Kagame said his country with the size of 26,338 km2 is not endowed with natural resources neither minerals nor oil, but its precious resources are its healthy people.
Professor Rwanyindo Ruzirabwoba, an economist said: “The population is a factor of development; it increases with development.”
Cyprien Munyaneza, a father of three from Musanze district says, “Every couple should bear a number of children they are able to cater for. The more they increase the more they also consume natural resources”
The survey indicated that hardworking Rwandans managed to improve country’s economy mainly through agriculture and service sector.
Food crops growth has been consistently twice greater than the population growth since 2002.
Domestic revenues are financing the country budget up to 62%.
The GDP per capita increased to $ 718 in 2014, up from $ 211 in 2000, while the economic growth is stable with 8% GDP.