Socioeconomic Determinants of Fertility Rate in Somalia

Abstract

The primary objective of this research was to examine how socioeconomic variables affected the fertility rate in Somalia between 1990 and 2020. To accomplish this goal, the study was conducted by applying a vector error correction model to gauge the associations among socioeconomic factors and fertility rate. The study employed annual time series data obtained from the World Bank and the Statistical, Economic, and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries. The research discovered the long-term impact on the fertility rate due to various socioeconomic factors. Female labour force participation and GDP per capita participation rate were found to have a long-term, significant negative impact on Somalia's fertility rate, whereas the fertility rate was significantly and positively impacted over time by the infant mortality rate. The study also found that the fertility rate in Somalia was not significantly affected in the short run by socioeconomic factors. As a result, the study concludes that socioeconomic factors only have a long-term effect on the fertility rates in Somalia. The study suggests that based on its findings that the Somali Democratic Republic's government implement national policies aimed at promoting female empowerment in the workforce and education, which would directly reduce the fertility rate.