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Mashonaland Central has Zimbabwe’s highest general fertility rates according to collected data during the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
This was revealed during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
Fertility statistics released revealed that the province had 137 live births per 1 000 women while Bulawayo had the lowest general fertility rate with 73 live births per 1 000 women.
The province’s total fertility rate had 4.4 children per woman against a national level of 3.7 children per woman.
An analysis of fertility by rural and urban areas revealed that the total fertility rate was higher in rural areas with 4.2 children per woman compared with 2.8 children per woman in urban areas.
“Regarding age specific fertility rate by age group, the nation is informed that it was highest in the 20 to 24 year age group, with a rate of 178.4 live births per 1 000 women.
“Age specific Fertility Rate was lowest in the 45 to 49 age group with a 7.4 live births per 1 000 women. Age Specific Fertility Rate was higher in rural areas where fertility peaked in the 20 to 24 years age group with 212 live births per 1 000 women. In urban areas, it peaked in the 25 to29 year age group consisting of 144.7 live births per 1 000 women,” Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.
Statistics also showed that population was higher in rural areas at 1.6% as compared to 0.3% in urban areas.
At the national level, 16.2% of the women aged 20 to 24 years, got married before attaining 18 years. The population was 22.7% in rural areas; and 7.2% in urban areas.
Mashonaland Central had the highest proportion of women married before the age of 18 years which stood at 28.8% while Bulawayo had the lowest at 2.6%.
At national level, 1.0% of the women aged 20 to 24 years, got married before attaining the age of 15 years.
Pertaining to infant birth registration, the national level was 19.1% (84 419) births registered for infants. Birth registration for infants was 28.3% (45 982) for urban areas and 13.7% (38 437) for rural areas.
However, the province had the lowest population of registered births which was at 14.7% while Masvingo province was the highest was at 35.1%. Nhau/Indaba
