U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT
AUG. 29 / SEPT. 5, 1994
A GROWING WORLD.
The United Nations' International Conference on Population and Development takes place in Cairo, September 5-13. The session is expected to produce a 20-year plan to control world population.
Pope John Paul II opposes the conference, saying it will lead to birth control and more abortions and threaten the traditional family.
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Earth's population: 5.6 BILLION;
projected by 2030: 8.5 BILLION;
hourly increase: 10,000;
portion of the world's population born in the last 25 years: NEARLY 50%
World's largest city: MEXICO CITY; population: 20.9 MILLION;
number of cities with populations over 1 million: 125;
by 2000: 300;
portion of Earth's inhabitants living in urban areas
by the year 2000: 50%
Countries expected to decline in population between now and 2030:
GERMANY, BY 9.4%; ITALY, BY 8.1%; HUNGARY, BY 7.9%;
Countries expected to grow the most:
OMAN, BY 209%; NIGER, BY 198%; YEMEN, BY 187%
Chances a baby born this year will be born in a developing nation:
93 IN 100
Life expectancy in industrialized nations: 74 YEARS;
in developing countries: 63 YEARS
Average number of children born in developing countries to
women who have no schooling: 6.9;
seven or more years of schooling: 3.9
USN&WR -- Basic data:
World Bank, U.N. Population Fund, Worldwatch Institute
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