World Population Tops 7 Billion
October 30, 2011
KABUL, 31 October 2011 – The United Nations projects that the world population will reach 7 billion today. This global milestone is both a great opportunity and a great challenge.
The challenges confronting humanity as the world’s population reaches 7 billion are presented in a new report by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund launched worldwide on October 26th.
The State of World Population 2011: People and possibilities in a world of 7 billion shows that actions we take today could determine whether world population will grow to 10 billion or 16 billion by the end of the century, and could ensure that our future is more equitable and environmentally sustainable.
“With planning and the right investment in people now – to empower them to make choices that are not only good for themselves, but also for our global commons – our world of 7 billion can have thriving sustainable cities, productive labour forces that fuel economies, and youth populations that contribute to the well-being of their societies,” says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin in the foreword of the report.
This year’s State of World Population report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at the dynamics behind the numbers. It explains the trends that are defining our world of 7 billion and documents actions that people in vastly different countries and circumstances are taking in their own communities to make the most of their–and our–world. It is mainly a report from the field, where demographers, policymakers, governments, civil society and individuals are grappling with population trends ranging from ageing to rapidly rising numbers of young people, from high population growth rates to shrinking populations, and from high rates of urbanization to rising international migration. The countries featured in this report are China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The State of World Population 2011 report shows that the issue of population is a question of human equity and opportunity more than space.
While our world of 7 billion presents a complex picture of trends and paradoxes, there are some essential global truths the report observed. It is relevant to note that educating and empowering girls and women allow them to have fewer children than their mothers and grandmothers did, and they choose this path whenever and wherever they can. It is also generally observed that boys and men must be consistently involved, for they are the critical partners for health and development.
UNFPA Report states that additional investments in youth are needed. Of the world’s 7 billion, 1.8 billion are young people between the ages of 10 and 24. As parents and teachers of the next generation, their choices will determine future population trends. Investing in the health and education of youth would yield enormous returns in economic growth and development for generations to come.
“In Afghanistan people less than 25 years old make up almost 70 percent of the total population. Investing in adolescent girls is one of the smartest investments a country can make. With health, education and opportunities, girls and women can contribute fully to their societies and help break the cycle of poverty. To celebrate the 7 billion possibilities behind the 7 billion people of this world, UNFPA stands close to Afghan women’s right to a safe and healthy motherhood”, said Arie Hoekman, UNFPA Afghanistan Representative.
The report includes selected demographic, social and economic indicators monitoring the progress made on the internationally agreed upon goals during the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, Egypt – September 1994).
Population dynamics in Afghanistan are described by the following numbers:
- population growth 3.1%
- urban population 23%
- total fertility rate 6.0
- life expectancy at birth for male and female is 49
- population using an improved sanitation facility 37%
- maternal mortality 1400 per 100,000 live births
- births attended by skilled health personnel 14%
- contraceptive prevalence rate any method 23%, modern method 15%
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
Source: www.khaama.com
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