Poverty Myth #5

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FACT: Birth Rates are Only One Factor in Poverty

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index measuring a country’s average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: a long, healthy life, education, and a decent standard of living. According to the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report 2002, Burundi, Niger and Sierra Leone, three countries ranked last on the HDI, report birth rates between 6.5 and 8 – significantly higher than the 1.7 average reported by countries with high human development. In South Asia, Bangladesh reports a fertility rate of 3.8, and Nepal of 4.8; they have the two lowest HDI rankings in the region. One might infer from these statistics that there is a causal link between high birth rates and high rates of poverty.

The truth, however, is much more complex. First of all, high birth rates don’t simply “happen”. Myriad other factors contribute to them, and in turn, contribute to poverty. For example, each of the above-referenced countries is marked by low levels of female literacy. In Niger, a staggeringly low 8 percent of adult women can read and write. Illiteracy among women is as high as 75 percent in Nepal, and 70 percent in nearby Bangladesh. Basic education has shown to impact birth rates--and poverty--in many significant ways. When women are empowered with at least a complete basic education, they are better able to access valuable health and family planning information to improve their own lives and those of their families. Research has also shown that educated women, who are able to have more control of their fertility decisions, marry later in life and have fewer, healthier children. Many studies have shown that education is the key to broadening employment options and has a direct impact on reducing birth rates.

Despite the above, the question remains: Will the reduction of birth rates solve the problem of poverty in these countries? One may be tempted to say yes. After all, fertility rates in Burundi, Niger and Sierra Leone have not fallen over the past 25 years and poverty has persisted. Yet Bangladesh has been extraordinarily successful in lowering its fertility rates – from almost 6.4 in 1970-75 to 3.8 in 2000--but remains one of the poorest countries in the world. It is not difficult to see why: Bangladesh has much ground to cover in terms of expanding education, universalizing health care, improving infrastructure and promoting employment opportunities for the poor. Without these measures, efforts to reduce birth rates will not effectively end poverty.

At the same time, it is equally important to note that problems of poverty, inequality and discrimination have not disappeared even from developed countries like the United States, where the fertility rate is as low as 2 percent. Surely this is something to think about. While reducing high birth rates is important from the viewpoint of women’s health and well-being, it is certainly not the only solution to the problems that arise from poverty.

Poverty Myths

Poverty Myth #1: Are illiterate parents interested in sending their children to school?

Poverty Myth #10: Child labor, not education, helps families end the cycle of poverty.

Poverty Myth #11: By increasing per capita income, poor countries can become developed by 2015.

Poverty Myth #12: Modern medicine and technology have eliminated pregnancy- and birth-related deaths around the world.

Poverty Myth #13: Poor women do not benefit from microcredit programs.

Poverty Myth #14: Basic education does not help people living in poverty.

Poverty Myth #15: Increased food availability will reduce hunger caused by famines.

Poverty Myth #16: Raising incomes is the best way to reduce poverty.

Poverty Myth #17: The Millennium Development Goals focus on eradicating poverty by the year 3000.

Poverty Myth #2: If school is free, why don’t more children in poor countries attend?

Poverty Myth #3: Children do not attend school because it is too far away.

Poverty Myth #4: Societies and countries are poor because their populations are large.

Poverty Myth #6: Girls drop out of school because it is too hard for them.

Poverty Myth #7: Strict population control measures are the most effective way to slow down population growth in developing countries.

Poverty Myth #8: Indian children are malnourished because they do not have enough food.

Poverty Myth #9: Limited or no access to drugs is the single greatest impediment to stopping the AIDS pandemic.