This paper argues that if African countries can successfully harness their demography to drive economic growth, the continent will rapidly develop, leading to greater reductions in food insecurity.

This is the fifth paper in Infrastructure Australia's Reform Series. It provides advice to Australian governments on improving the productivity and liveability of our largest cities as they grow over the next thirty years.

This audit assessed whether state planning is meeting the needs of the rapidly growing population for birthing, maternal and child health, funded kindergarten services, and related infrastructure, in greenfield growth areas and established suburbs.

Australia has the highest rate of population growth of all the medium and large OECD countries. But urban planning for this growth is often inadequate.

Population growth has profound impacts on Australian life, and sorting myths from facts can be difficult., writes Liz Allen.