Population Growth and Life Expectancy in Nigeria: Issues and Further Considerations

Abstract

This study empirically investigates the effects of population growth on average life expectancy in Nigeria taking into account the explicit role of healthy citizens in economic development as well as other control variables not considered in prior studies. Predicted on country-specific regression and Granger Causality test using time series data between 1986 and 2015, the findings reveal that rising population growth have positive and insignificantly impacts life expectancy; but 1% decrease in fertility rate and population of 65-and-above dependency ratio could positively stimulates an improvement in longevity by 5.84, and 81.5 respectively in Nigeria. Furthermore, the granger causality test shows that population growth could granger cause low life expectancy in Nigeria at least at 10% level of significant. The findings therefore make a case for strengthening efforts towards reducing both fertility rate and age 65 and above dependency ratio with priority given to the welfare of ages 65 and above population in Nigeria.