Population increases bring challenges and opportunities. Efforts to sustainably meet the needs and desires of a growing world population will have implications for all countries – as will failure to meet these needs. For example, although the G20 – an organization representing 20 of the world’s largest economies – is responsible for 80 percent of all emissions, the global climate will change no matter where greenhouse gases are emitted. While demographics vary considerably at national levels, the overall trends have global implications for sustainable development. This could result in slow growth or population decrease. In countries with ageing populations, on the other hand, the demographic group of reproductive-age women may be shrinking. As these youth age into parenthood, their strength in numbers will drive continued global population growth, despite falling fertility rates. Today, there are more adolescents and young people than ever before. In high-income countries, migration, rather than fertility, will be the main driver of population dynamics over the next few decades.Īge distribution also affects whether populations expand or contract. On the other hand, the populations of more than 60 countries and areas around the world are projected to shrink between now and 2050 due to falling fertility and, in some cases, increased emigration. Many of the world’s least developed countries have populations projected to double between 20. Some have populations that are expanding – quickly. General population trends mask considerable differences between countries. To more sustainably address the needs of individuals, policymakers must understand how many people are living on the planet, where they are, how old they are, and how many people will come after them. They also impact efforts to ensure universal access to health care, education, housing, sanitation, water, food and energy. They affect economic development, employment, income distribution, poverty and social protections. These megatrends have far-reaching implications. The first year in which more people lived in urban than rural areas was 2007, and by 2050 about 68 per cent of the world population will be living in cities. In addition, the world is seeing high levels of urbanization and accelerating migration. (Global life expectancy actually declined from 73 years in 2019 due mainly to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.) Meanwhile, average global lifespans have risen, from about 64 years in the early 1990s to 71 years in 2021. ![]() In the early 1970s, a woman had on average 4.5 children by 2021, the average global fertility rate had fallen to 2.3 children per woman. The recent past has seen enormous changes in fertility rates and life expectancy.
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