Demographic transition in the Maghreb

In a 1985 Geography article, John Clarke demonstrated the very limited demographic transition experienced by North Africa as part of the Muslim World. Over a decade later all the Maghreb countries, together with Egypt, have achieved quite marked demographic transition based on strong fertility decline. Recent statistics on birth rates and age-specific fertility rates demonstrate this change and allow projections through to near zero population growth for North Africa by the year 2025. Factors behind this transition include urbanisation, the education of women and their greater participation in employment, and family planning. Another factor, whose potential was considered by Clarke in 1985, is the contribution of Maghreb immigrant families in Europe to changing value systems in their home communities, leading to fertility decline. Geography © 1999.