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Facts and Prospects: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 2019

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World
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UNFPA
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Discussion Paper: A comparative analysis of selected International Conference on Population and Development indicators among Southern African and other upper middle- and high-income countries

BACKGROUND

The world’s middle-income countries (MICs) are a diverse group by size, population, and income levels. Lower middle income economies (LMICs) with gross national income (GNI) per capita ranging from $1,026 to $3,995 and upper middle income economies (UMICs) with a GNI per capita of $3,996 up to $12,375 at 2019 levels, often demonstrate the complexity of coexisting wealth, economic prospects and development inequalities. The transition of MICs through resource constrained contexts, emerging economy, and current MIC status present opportunities for economic acceleration, as well as risks of economic downturn and failed prospects.

As such, UMICs must remain proactive to steer their sustainable development through inclusive policies and strategies related to health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), economy, education, environment, and gender equality, among others. The African continent has eight UMICs and one high-income country (HIC), Seychelles.

Half of the UMICs in the continent are in Southern Africa while two each are in West Africa and North Africa. This brief presents a comparative analysis of selected indicators related to the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD) between Southern African UMICs and selected UMICs and HICs from other parts of the world, with a view to identifying opportunities for improvement.