The DHS Program

Trends in Reproductive Behavior in Rwanda (English) 

Document Type

Further Analysis

Publication Topic(s)

Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences

Country(s)

Rwanda

Survey

Rwanda DHS, 2014-15

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Westoff, Charles F. 2017. Trends in Reproductive Behavior in Rwanda: Further Analysis of the 2014-15 Demographic and Health Survey. DHS Further Analysis Reports No. 107. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF.

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Publication Date

January 2018

Publication ID

FA107

Abstract:

This report, based largely on the 2014-15 national survey in Rwanda, focuses on changes and trends in reproductive behavior since 2010. In the 4-5 years after the 2010 survey, fertility continued its decline to 4.2 births per woman as contraceptive prevalence increased slightly. However, the earlier downward trend in number of children desired appears stalled. This is clearly evident from an increase in the proportions of married women and men who say they want more children. Child mortality has significantly declined and remains strongly related to fertility; while age at marriage has continued to increase. The demographic goals specified in the 1998- 99 plan for development, Rwanda Vision 2020, appear on track, but the annual rate of population growth remains high, currently 2.5%, because fertility is high. Furthermore, large numbers of young people are now entering their child-bearing years. Although most trends seem encouraging, especially compared with other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, significant population growth is expected in Rwanda, from 12 to 16 million people by 2030, and to 22 million people by midcentury, even with assumed reductions of fertility.