Economic Inequality and Divergence in Family Formation in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

Economic inequality has been rising in many sub‐Saharan African countries alongside rapid changes to union and family formation. In high‐income countries marked by rising inequality, union and family formation practices have diverged across socioeconomic statuses, with intergenerational social and health consequences for the disadvantaged. In this study, we address whether there is also evidence of demographic divergence in low‐income settings. Specifically, we model the age at first marriage and first birth by socioeconomic status groups for women born between 1960 and 1989 using Demographic and Health Survey data from 12 sub‐Saharan African countries where economic inequality levels are relatively high or rising. We argue that economic and sociocultural factors may both serve to increasingly delay marriage and childbearing for the elite as compared to others in the context of rising inequality. We find emerging social stratification in marriage and childbearing, and demonstrate that this demographic divergence is driven by the elites who are increasingly marrying and having children at later ages, with near stagnation in the age at first marriage and birth among the remaining majority. We urge further research at the intersection of socioeconomic and demographic inequality to inform necessary policy levers and curtail negative social and health consequences.

Unequal Transitions to Adulthood: Widening Disparities in Age at First Union, Sex, and Birth in Many Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries

“…Our supplemental analysis suggests that, although unlikely to fully explain them, growing disparities could partially be driven by diverging patterns between urban and rural areas (Figure A2 in the Supporting Information). In line with the literature highlighting a link between socioeconomic inequalities and disparities in the timing of family formation in the global South (Stoebenau et al 2021;Castro Torres et al 2022), our supplemental analysis also points to the relevance of increasing differentials in investments in human capital, which we proxied with a measure of within-country disparities in the number of years of schooling completed (Figure A3 in the Supporting Information). Relatedly, given the strongest evidence of growing heterogeneity in the timing of family formation in West Africa and the Americas-two regions characterized by particularly high levels of income inequality-and the evidence of a link between income inequality and disparities in the age at first birth in the global South, economic inequalities are also a plausible mechanism.…”

“…In line with the literature highlighting a link between socioeconomic inequalities and disparities in the timing of family formation in the global South (Stoebenau et al. 2021; Castro Torres et al. 2022), our supplemental analysis also points to the relevance of increasing differentials in investments in human capital, which we proxied with a measure of within‐country disparities in the number of years of schooling completed (Figure A3 in the Supporting Information).…”

“…Consequently, in LMICs where many women marry and have children early, increasing average ages at first union and birth have been suggested to be associated with enhanced women's well‐being, status, and opportunities outside of the domestic spheres (e.g., Yount et al. 2018; Urdinola and Ospino 2015; Sunder 2019). However, the comprehensive understanding of the extent to which these increases represent a uniform trend toward later sexual initiation and family formation within countries is less clear.…”

“…Finally, sexual initiation, marriage, and childbearing are critical early life‐course events that affect later‐life outcomes. While early family formation has been associated with worse health, as well as educational and labor market outcomes of women and their children, there is evidence that later family building could correlate with positive long‐term offspring outcomes (e.g., Barclay and Myrskylä 2016; Urdinola and Ospino 2015; Sunder 2019). Increasing disparities in the timing of the first union, sex, and birth across cohorts may therefore lay the foundation for life‐course inequalities that could not only persist but also worsen across generations.…”

“…Castro Torres et al (2022) highlighted that income inequality is associated with larger disparities in the age at first birth within the global South countries. Focusing on selected sub-Saharan African nations, Stoebenau et al (2021) suggested that in countries where economic inequalities were high or increased, highly educated women postponed marriage and childbearing to a larger extent than low educated women, resulting in growing social stratification in family formation. Given emerging evidence on the link between socioeconomic inequalities and disparities in the timing of family formation, as well as increasing economic inequalities in many countries, it is vital to explore long-term changes in disparities in the timing of events during transition to adulthood and their variation across settings.…”