Section One
Section One
Section One
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38<br />
population growth, or even a contraction in some regions, as well as rising urbanization<br />
and an ageing population.<br />
Population growth rates have been declining historically and this is set to continue.<br />
OECD population increased by an average of 1% p.a. in the 1970s, but this<br />
had fallen to 0.5% p.a. by 2010. In developing countries, average growth has been<br />
higher, at 2.5% p.a. in the early 1970s, but this has also declined, reaching 1.4% p.a.<br />
in 2010. These trends have been strongly driven by changes in the birth rate (although<br />
changes in mortality rates and international migration are also key drivers). In OECD<br />
countries the number of births per year fell from over 20 per 1,000 of population in<br />
the early 1960s to just 11 per 1,000 by 2010, while in developing countries the rate<br />
fell from over 40 per 1,000 to 22 per 1,000 (Figure 1.2). The downward trend in birth<br />
rates is expected to continue.<br />
Table 1.2<br />
Population levels and growth<br />
Levels Growth Growth<br />
millions millions % p.a.<br />
2010 2035 2010–2035 2010–2035 2010–2020 2020–2035<br />
North America 466 555 89 0.7 0.8 0.6<br />
Western Europe 547 576 29 0.2 0.3 0.1<br />
OECD Pacific 201 194 –8 –0.2 0.0 –0.3<br />
OECD 1,215 1,325 110 0.3 0.5 0.3<br />
Latin America 431 516 85 0.7 0.9 0.6<br />
Middle East & Africa 882 1,422 541 1.9 2.2 1.8<br />
South Asia 1,644 2,144 500 1.1 1.3 0.9<br />
Southeast Asia 657 809 152 0.8 1.0 0.7<br />
China 1,354 1,462 108 0.3 0.5 0.2<br />
OPEC 405 586 181 1.5 1.8 1.3<br />
Developing countries 5,372 6,939 1,567 1.0 1.2 0.9<br />
Russia 141 126 –15 –0.4 -0.4 –0.5<br />
Other transition economies 199 201 2 0.0 0.1 0.0<br />
Transition economies 340 327 –13 –0.2 -0.1 –0.2<br />
World 6,927 8,590 1,663 0.9 1.0 0.7<br />
Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat,<br />
http://esa.un.org/unpp.