The study presented here aims at empirically verifying the existence of poverty demography trap by analyzing survey data from two regions in Northern Tanzania. First the macro and microeconomic issues on the relation between GDP and population growth is summarized. Poverty and demographic variables in Africa and in Tanzania are also highlighted. The number of children everborne (CEB) and household size in the study area indicate a high rate of population growth. Also the number on non nuclear household members was found to be about 23% indicating the high impact of population pressure on household resources.
The stated demographic variables were classified with selected poverty indicators. The latter include under and mal nutrition, monetary expenditure, access to land, to clean water, to sanitary facilities as well as access to energy. The results showed moderate form of under nutrition and acute malnutrition as being associated with CEB and household size. Large size households tend to spend much less on food compared to smaller size. The mean weekly expenditure among households with six members is a meager five dollars. As much as 50% of farming households do not own land. Access to clean water, modern toilet facilities and access to electricity were found to be very low especially among large size households. Besides, as much as fifty percent of households depend on wood for home energy.
.Even though there was some variation by rural-urban divide, by migration status and by type of employment, the overall result show that the study area is within demography-poverty trap.