Abstract:

The young population structure of most African countries will serve as a driving force behind economic buoyancy in years to come, only if strategies are put in place to encourage smaller families. Forty percent of the Nigerian population are below 15 years, while 3 percent are 65 years and above. A large workforce with fewer children to support creates a window of opportunity to save money on health care and other social services. This study seeks to examine the relationship between family planning and age structure of the Nigerian population; and to identify prospective ways of achieving the demographic dividend in Nigeria. Data was extracted from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey Report in 2013, United Nations World Population Prospects Report (2016) and World Population Data Sheets (2009-2016). Descriptive approach through the use of cross tabulation (level of significance was set at 5 percent), tables and charts were adopted in presenting data in this study. Findings show that contraceptive prevalence level in the country had been very low.