Family Planning as a Necessary and Feasible Option for African Countries: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Evidence from Egypt

This study provides evidence of the importance of family planning programs in Africa to reduce the current high fertility rates based on a cost-benefit analysis of Egypt. The paper leverages two scenarios in the Egyptian context. The first is that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remains at the level of 3.5, and the second is that TFR was reduced through rigorous family planning programs to reach the replacement level of 2.1 by 2030. This program will lead to an approximate decrease of 9.4 million in the forecasted population, reflected in the decrease in expenditure on health and education. This benefit of family planning is compared to the cost of the family planning program in terms of an increase in the use of subsidized contraceptives and results in net savings of LE 67.21 billion (USD 4.28 billion)1 and a benefit-cost ratio of 20.94 only in terms of health and education.