Reassessment of the Prospects for Fertility Decline in Egypt: Is Development a Prerequisite

摘要

Is socioeconomic development more effective than family planning (FP) in reducing fertility in developing countries. This report explores this question by analyzing Egypt's demographic history since 1800 and recent trends in its population policy. Pre-1973 efforts chiefly consisted of providing contraceptives. This resulted in a drop in the birth rate from 43.0 to 34.4 per 1,000 from 1963-72. In 1973, Egypt reoriented it population policy to emphasize the developmental approach, i.e., aiming to reduce fertility through higher living standards, education, female employment, agricultural mechanization, rural industrialization, reduced infant mortality, improved social security, information dissemination, as well as the provision of FP services. Despite these efforts, birth rates rose to 41 per 1,000 in 1979.