WORLD POPULATION TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE TO FEED IN 35 YEARS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 14

WORLD POPULATION TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE TO FEED IN 35 YEARS

World population climbed to 3,308 million by mid-1960. This marks an annual rate of increase of 2 per cent, and amounts to an addition ot some 65 million persons in twelve months.

The gain in numbers exceeds by nearly 10 million the population of West Germany, the largest nation in Europe. If present growth trends continue, the population of the world will more than double by the year 2000.

In 1965 there were about 125 million births in the world and 60 million deaths —a ratio of births to deaths of about 2 to 1. Belgium with an “ageing” population which is growing slowly, had about 4 births to every 3 deaths. At the other extreme stands Costa Rica where for every death 51 births were recorded. With a death rate of 8.8 and a birth rate of 47 to 50, Costa Rica’s population will double in 16 years. (Birth rates and death rates are the annual number of births and deaths a thousand of total population.) The fastest rates of population growth are to be found in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where more than 2300 million people live. The data sheet gives the U.N.’s “continued trends” projected increase to the year 2000 for the world and for continental areas and regions. This shows a world total of more than 7000 million on that date. With a continuation of present trends, seven-eighths of the world’s increase in the next 35 years will be found in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. High Fertility

Statistics on birth rates reveal that none of the developing countries has yet achieved

Latin American countries, where effective public health measures combine with high fertility to give very youthful populations, a factor which favourably affects the death rate. Infant mortality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan is as low as that of the United States, which in turn is noticeably higher than that of some European countries. Doubled In 16 Years The number of years for populations to double varies from 16 years for Costa Rica to 175 years for Hungary. The United States, now doubling in about 50 years, stands between the industrialised countries of Europe and the developing countries of Asia and Latin America. Ireland and East Germany, with a declining population, have no “doubling time.” (Kuwait’s seven years is due mainly to migration. Its natural increase doubling rate is about 21 years.) Latin America leads the

pattern in which the national product is distributed is very different in the two countries. Only three other nations have a G.N.P. of $2OOO per annum or more: Canada with $2lOO. Sweden with $2046, and Switzerland with $2002. In the high fertility countries of Asia and Africa. G.N.P. ranges from $B5 a year to no more than $2OO. Robert C. Cook, president of the Population Reference Bureau, says that the data sheet provides the statistical essentials for appraising and pinpointing the world’s population crisis. “Today accelerating population growth is at last recognised as definitely the number two problem confronting mankind. “Since 1961. the United States Government has devoted increasing attention to the matter,” Mr Cook says. “President Johnson has repeatedly emphasised the need for a world-wide attack on the problem of population control. In the Congress, hearings sponsored by Senator Ernest Gruening of Alaska have accumulated massive testimony as to the i gravity of the population crisis. A dozen countries have adopted national policies of population control. The United Nations. Sweden, and the United States are committed to helping when requested.

“This concern comes none too soon,” Mr Cook says. “It may be too late to avoid tragedy in the many areas of acute stress. Today 100 million people are close to the famine line. The dry statistics present an urgent warning that time is short, if mass tragedy is to be averted.”

The "1965 World Population Data Sheet" was recently published by the Population Reference Bureau. a non-profit. independent research organisation in Washington. D.C. This article was written by the bureau from statistics gathered during the preparation of its data sheet, which summarises population trends in every country of the world.