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World Population Projected to reach 8.1 billion in 2025
Ho, Oct. 12, Ghanadot/GNA - The world population, which is
now 6.8 billion, is projected to increase to 8.1 billion by
2025.
All the growth is in the developing countries and the
astronomical growth of the world's youth population ranging
between 15 and 24 years is shifting to Africa and Asia.
This was contained in the latest edition of Population Reference
Bureau (PRB) published in the USA which informs people around
the world about population, health and the environment and
empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being
of current and future generations.
It said Africa's population which has just passed one billion is
growing by 24 million per year and will double by 2050.
The PRB said the highest fertility rate of 7.4 children per
woman is in Niger and the lowest rate of 1.0 child per woman is
in Taiwan.
It quoted its president, Bill Butz as saying that "even with
declining fertility rates in many countries, world population is
still growing at a rapid rate and the increase from six billion
to seven billion is likely to take 12 years as did the increase
from five billion to six billion".
It said the 2009 World Population Data Sheet shows how stark the
contrasts were between rich and poor countries.
The PRB said young people in the poor countries would most
likely continue the current trend of moving from the rural areas
to cities in search of education and training opportunities,
gainful employment and adequate health care.
It said one of the major social questions of the next few
decades was whether their expectations would be met.
GNA
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