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Millogo, R., Rossier, C. and Soura, A.B. (2024) Fertility Transition in Dakar, Ouagadougou, and Nairobi: A Uniform Decline across All Age Groups, Supported by Increasingly Longer Birth Intervals? In: Duthé, G., Dasré, A., Diemé, B.N., Masquelier, B., Pilon, M., Rossier, C., Soura, A.B., Wayack Pambè, M., Marcoux, R., Eds, Promoting and Comparing Existing Statistical Sources to Address Demographic Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, Presses de l’Université du Québec, 163-189. (African Societies in Transition).

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Analysis of Fertility Trends by Socioeconomic Inequality, Educational Attainment, and Fertility Literacy in Benin: A Descriptive Study of the EDS and MICS Surveys (1996-2022)

  AUTHORS: Fousseni Seibou, Charles Patrick Makoutode, Lamidhi Salami, Vignon Bedie, Virginie Mongbo

  KEYWORDS: Fertility, Socioeconomic Inequalities, Educational Attainment, Fertility Literacy, Benin

  JOURNAL NAME: Health, Vol.18 No.7, July 20, 2026

  ABSTRACT: Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, rapid population growth poses a major challenge to sustainable development. Benin has high fertility that varies markedly across socioeconomic settings. This study analyzes fertility trends in Benin over three decades, examining differential variation by education, economic status, and fertility literacy, using data from the EDS and MICS surveys (1996-2022). Methods: This is a descriptive study based on a secondary analysis of the final reports of five Demographic and Health Surveys (EDS: 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011-2012, 2017-2018) and two Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS: 2014, 2021-2022), validated by INSAE/INStaD. Estimates were taken directly from the tables published in these reports. Source selection followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol. Results: The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined from 6.0 children per woman in 1996 to 4.7 in 2021-2022, with a rebound to 5.7 between 2014 and 2018. Fertility remains higher in rural than urban areas (mean TFR: 6.0 vs. 4.7). Higher educational attainment is associated with lower fertility. Households in the poorest economic quintiles also show higher fertility levels. Improved fertility literacy and increased contraceptive use (16.9% in 2014 to 23.1% in 2021) are associated with the observed decline. Conclusion: Education, reproductive health literacy, and the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities are essential levers of the fertility transition in Benin. Their integration into public policy is essential to support sustainable demographic development.