The Dilemma of Population Growth
Ayenew Haileselassie
Addis Abeba — Imagine Ethiopia being among the top 10 in the world for anything. In 2050 it will almost happen. Alas, Philippines will beat us by a very small margin. Forty years from now, Ethiopia will be the 11th most populous nation in the world with 149.5 million people. Just think of how much aid food we are going to get then. Don’t worry; many of us will live to see that day.
If it were a competition to beat every country to the top, it would not be much of an improvement, for, today, Ethiopia is the 12th most populous country with 82.2 million people, according to information from Population Reference Bureau. Germany follows right behind with almost the same population (82 million). If it were an athletic race, Ethiopia would feel the hot, moist breath of Germany , as the richer country teased it saying, “I can feed my people and still help feed yours. What are you up to, anyway?” This is not really meant to make fun where it should not be made but rather an attempt to draw attention to the claims of Ethiopian leaders that they consider their people as an asset retaliating to those who tell them to draft stronger population policy. Of course, we have never had leaders who ever admit their failures. For, what they should have been bold enough to say was to come out to the front and say loud and clear, “Our family planning programme has failed.” Today, according to the above source, only 14% of married Ethiopian women between the ages of 15 to 49 have access to modern methods of contraception.
