THE NEXUS AMONG POPULATION GROWTH, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN ECOWAS

Abstract

This study investigates the direction of causal relationships among population growth, environmental degradation and health outcomes in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the period 1995–2025. Despite efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the region, rapid population expansion and increasing environmental pressures continue to pose significant challenges to public health. The study utilizes annual panel data obtained from the World Development Indicators, World Health Organization databases and other international sources. Dumitrescu–Hurlin Panel Granger Causality technique was employed to examine the direction of causality among life expectancy, population growth, carbon dioxide emissions, deforestation, public health expenditure, literacy rate, real GDP and urbanization. The findings reveal the existence of both unidirectional and bidirectional causal relationships among the variables. Population growth, environmental degradation, literacy rate and public health expenditure significantly Granger-cause health outcomes while environmental degradation and health outcomes exhibit bidirectional causality. The results suggest that demographic and environmental factors play important roles in shaping health outcomes across the region. The study recommends policies that promote sustainable population management, environmental protection, increased public health investment and human capital development to enhance health outcomes and sustainable development in ECOWAS