Fertility in Botswana: A District Perspective

Low mortality combined with high fertility produces a very high population growth rate in Botswana. It is presently estimated at 3.5 percent per year. Fertility change is thus an issue of national importance. This paper considers the geographical aspects of fertility change. Geographical differences in fertility can be demonstrated in Botswana from the 1971 census onwards: first, between urban and rural areas, and second, among rural districts. The difference in the number of children women may be expected to have throughout their lifetime is a constant 1.3 to 1.4 points (= births) lower in the urban than in the rural areas of the country. Fertility differences can also be detected between rural districts in the country: the south and the east with above-average fertility, and the northern half of the country with below-average fertility. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that in a traditional environment, fertility is relatively low, but that it tends to increase when traditional practices related to marriage and childbearing become eroded. Fertility will only decline again when modern regulatory practices are adopted. This double transition ripples through the country and affects regions and generations of women differently. Bibliogr., notes.