Population Challenges And Development Goals

Part one of this report provides a global overview of demographic trends for major areas and selected countries. It reviews trends relating to population size and growth, urbanization and city growth, population ageing, fertility and contraception, mortality, including HIV/AIDS, and international migration. In addition, a section on population policies has been included. World population reached 6.5 billion in 2005. But considerable diversity in population size and growth lies behind this number. The population of many countries, particularly those in Africa and Asia, will increase greatly in the coming decades. In contrast, owing to below-replacement fertility levels, some developed countries are expected to experience significant population decline. Half the world's population is expected to live in urban areas by 2007, and the world population is also becoming older. The second part of the report considers the relationship of these population trends and the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action to fulfilling the development goals agreed to by the international community. The report concludes that implementing the ICPD Programme of Action - including action on child mortality, the improvement of maternal health, and the universal access to primary education - will contribute significantly to the achievement of these goals, including the goals contained in the Millennium Declaration.