By Alois Vinga
A LANDMARK report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says Zimbabwe’s poor women are giving birth to more children as compared to their well-off counterparts.
The UNFPA report unveiled Friday in partnership with government and other development partners titled ‘2025 State of World Population Report’ pokes holes in a series of family creation patterns across the country.
“In Zimbabwe, fertility rates decrease as household wealth increases. Women in the lowest wealth quintile have significantly more children (5.5) compared to those in the highest quintile (2.6). Women in the lowest wealth quintile have their first birth, on average, three years earlier (19.0 years) than women in the highest quintile (21.9 years),” the study says.
These findings mirror the situation in Zimbabwe where couples, especially in urban areas are reducing the sizes of their families.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) — the average number of children a woman would have by the end of her childbearing years if she bore children at the current age-specific fertility rates — dropped 4.3 children per woman in 1994 to 3.8 in 2005-06. Since then, it has remained largely stable, currently standing at 3.9 in the 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey.
On average, a woman in Zimbabwe will have about four children in her lifetime (TRF 3.9). When disaggregated by place of birth women in rural areas (about 5 children per woman – TFT 4,6 tend to have more children than those in urban areas (about 3 children per woman – TFR 3.1). Women in urban areas begin childbearing 2 years later, on average, than rural women (21.1 versus 19.4 years).
Even if women, especially those in the workplace, desire to have more children childcare responsibilities often makes it difficult for them to pursue career advancement, maintain full-time employment or engage in professional development opportunities. This in part explains why women in the highest wealth quintile have fewer children.
In his keynote address to mark the World Population Day, which coincided with the report’s launch, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora affirmed the government’s stance on upholding reproductive rights.
“The Government of Zimbabwe upholds reproductive rights, empowering individuals to choose the number, timing, and spacing of children they want to have, free from coercion.
“Fertility rates are a key driver of Zimbabwe’s continued population growth and contribute significantly to its youthful demographic structure. We will continue to support policies to ensure we prevent low birth rates,” he said.
UK Development Director and Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Jo Abbot said the UK is proud to stand with Zimbabwe and UNFPA in championing reproductive rights and choices.
“Vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.
“The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and supportive partners.”