Family planning pays huge benefits to economy - UN

A new report finds greater access to family planning methods would save developing countries more than $11 billion a year in reduced costs for maternal and newborn health care. 


In this year's State of the World Population report, the United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] has also said that family planning and the resulting drop in family size pays additional economic dividends, the Voce of America reported.

The report by the UN Population Fund says 222 million women in developing countries currently lack access to contraceptives and other family planning services. It says an investment of $4 billion a year would provide these women with reproductive information that would save lives by preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

In addition, the report notes increased access to family planning has proven to be a sound economic investment. Wealthy countries in Europe and North America have long reaped a so-called demographic dividend from having fewer children. It says the same logic works in developing countries.