London, Oct. 3, 2017 (AltAfrika)-Egyptian government is planning a series of birth control measures to curb population explosion according to the Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali

Ghadi Wali expressed concern about the country’s population boost and says a strict birth control regime  is necessary to avoid” a population implosion.”

Egypt’s population has risen from 72.6 million in 2006 to 94.8 million as of April, 2017, according to the latest census figures announced by the country’s statistics agency last week.

In an interview with local al-Mehwar TV, the Minister said  birth control programmes would be launched in the Upper Egypt region where over a million women under 35 years  have up to three children and are still having more

She blamed early marriage and inadequate family planning programmes for the high birth rates which she says has contributed to Egypt’s weakening economy.

The population of Egypt rose from 59.2 million in 1996 to 72.6 million in 2006 and to 94.8 million in 2017. This implies an average growth rate of 2.04% during the period 1996-2006 and to 2.56% during the period 2006-2017.

Cairo has the highest share of the population with 18.1 million including its twin province of Giza.

The sex ratio is 51.6% males and 48.4% females while 34.2% of the total population is composed of the age group below 15 years of age.