African countries have changed their population policies since 1974 to lower growth rates. More countries now want to reduce fertility levels, with many adopting strategies like family planning programs. In 1998, 30 out of 53 African states had specific population policies. Some countries focus on family planning for health reasons rather than lowering fertility. The number of countries with government-supported contraceptive programs has increased significantly. Regional and global frameworks have allowed African countries to review and update their population and development policies.