At the launch of the “2011 State of the World Population Report” yesterday, UNFA Representative Ugochi Daniels said that while women worldwide are having fewer children, global population continues to rise, partly because of higher life expectancy.
“While our world of seven billion presents a complex picture of trends and paradoxes, there are some essential global truths we observe. Conversely, there is no one global population outlook,” Daniels said.
By Oct. 31, 60 percent of the world’s population will belong to Asia. China continues to be the country with the biggest population in the world at 1.3 billion, followed by India at 1.24 billion.
The Population Division of the UN-Department of Economic and Social Affairs, however, estimates that by 2025, India will overtake China with 1.46 billion and 1.39 billion, respectively.
The report showed that worldwide, 893 million people are 60 years old or older and by the middle of the century, the number of people in this age bracket will reach 2.4 billion.
People now live longer, with the average life span of 68 against 48 in 1950s.
The UNFPA noted that in many parts of the world where population growth is outpacing economic growth, family planning needs still have to be met.
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