World Population Likely To Double By Year 2000

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 13

World Population Likely To Double By Year 2000

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 16. The population of the world in mid-1964 was an estimated 3,283,000,000 people. Each year the world total is now increasing by about 65m people, enough to populate a new nation larger than West Germany or the United Kingdom.

More than 56 per cent of the world’s people live in Asia. Latin America and Africa account for another 16 per cent. The remaining 28 per cent are in Europe, Northern America, Oceania and the Soviet Union.

In 1980, world population will approximate 4300 m, according to a new United Nations prediction. Latin America is expected to have the largest proportional gain between 1964 and 1980, 58 per cent.

The populations of Northern America and Latin America were each about 200 m in 1960. These and other facts are contained in the 1964 World Population Data Sheet issued by the Population Reference Bureau, Washington, to mark the 19th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at which the population question is scheduled for debate. The Data Sheet shows the current population projected to 1980, and birth, death and growth rates for 129 countries. These data are derived from the most recent United Nations statistics. MORE CONTROL Africa, Asia and Latin America have birth rates ranging from 40 to 50 births for 1000 population a year. European birth rates are generally below 20. Birth rates in Northern America, Oceania and the U.S.S.R. are 20 to 25 for 1000 population. Death rate range from over 20 for 1000 in Africa and Asia to below 10 in Europe and Northern America. One of the most important facts, concerning world population is that today about a third of the world’s people have gained—or are gaining—control of the birth rate. Two-thirds of the people have not; and the high birth-

rate areas are the developing countries, with low levels of living. No accurate information is available for the population of China. The latest estimate

is 690 m. There is no question that China is by far the most populous nation in the world today. By 1980 China is expected to add another 150 m people. India, the world’s second largest nation with a 1964 population of 468.5 m, gains an additional 10m people each year. This number is larger than the population of Sweden.

Ranking behind China and India among the world’s ten largest nations are the U.S.S.R. (229 m people); the United States (192); Indonesia (102); Pakistan (101); Japan (97); Brazil (80); West Germany (56); and the United Kingdom (54). If today’s growth trend continues unchanged, the number of people on earth will double to nearly 7000 m by the year 2000.