Socioeconomic Determinants of Fertility Rate in Somalia

Abstract
The primary objective of this research was to examine how socioeconomic variables
affected the fertility rate in Somalia between 1990 and 2020. To accomplish this goal, the
study was conducted by applying a vector error correction model to gauge the associations
among socioeconomic factors and fertility rate. The study employed annual time series
data obtained from the World Bank and the Statistical, Economic, and Social Research
and Training Centre for Islamic Countries. The research discovered the long-term impact
on the fertility rate due to various socioeconomic factors. Female labour force participation
and GDP per capita participation rate were found to have a long-term, significant negative
impact on Somalia's fertility rate, whereas the fertility rate was significantly and positively
impacted over time by the infant mortality rate. The study also found that the fertility rate
in Somalia was not significantly affected in the short run by socioeconomic factors. As a
result, the study concludes that socioeconomic factors only have a long-term effect on the
fertility rates in Somalia. The study suggests that based on its findings that the Somali
Democratic Republic's government implement national policies aimed at promoting
female empowerment in the workforce and education, which would directly reduce the
fertility rate.