Early childbearing

Among adolescent girls, maternal conditions are the number one cause of death. This is intrinsically related to high fertility rates among adolescents in some specific regions of the world.

The highest rates of early childbearing are found in sub-Saharan African countries. In 2018, the estimated adolescent birth rate globally was 44 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19; in West and Central Africa, this figure stood at 115 births, the highest regional rate in the world. Countries such as Central African Republic, Niger, Chad, Angola and Mali top the list of countries with highest adolescent birth rate (above 178). In other regions like Latin America and the Caribbean, high fertility levels among adolescents is also a concern.

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