Birth rate
The region of Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest birth rate in the world. As of 2016, Niger, Mali, Uganda, Zambia, and Burundi have the highest birth rates in the world. This is part of the fertility-income paradox, as these countries are very poor, and it may seem counter-intuitive for families there to have so many children. The inverse relationship between income and fertility has been termed a "demographic-economic "paradox"" by the notion that greater means would enable the production of more offspring as suggested by the influential Thomas Malthus.
Women in Niger
Niger has the highest prevalence of child marriage and the highest total fertility rate (TFR) in the world (a TFR of almost 7 children/woman). Early marriage is the norm in Niger: 3 in 4 girls are married before their 18th birthday, the highest rate in the world. Maternal mortality in Niger is high, due to reasons such as socioeconomic factors, lack of access to quality medical care, and insufficient number of qualified health personnel. Niger's very high fertility rate is posing a threat to the population's well-being, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and malnutrition; there have been attempts to educate the population on the benefits of smaller families.