…as world population approaches 7 billion
Africa’s youth population between the ages 15-20 has seen a rapid growth rate in the last 12 years according to the Population Reference Bureau’s (PRB) 2009 World Population Data Sheet.
The report said “the growth of the world’s youth population is shifting into the poorest countries’ especially Africa and Asia.
According to the report, Africa’s population which has just passed 1 billion is growing by about 24 million per year, and will double by 2050.
Carl Haub, PRB’s senior demographer and co-author of the data sheet said “the great bulk of today’s 1.2 billion youth are in developing countries with eight out of 10 living in Africa and Asia.
The report said the global population numbers will reach 7 billion in 2011, just 12 years after reaching 6 billion in 1999.
Bill Butz, president of PRB, who described the increase as ‘unprecedented in the world history”, noted that the world population is still growing despite the decline in fertility rate in many countries.
The report further stated that “during the next few decades, these young people will most likely continue the current trend of moving from rural areas to cities in search of education and training opportunities, gainful employment, and adequate health care’. It however was not sure whether these ‘expectation will be met.’
The 2009 World population data sheet provides up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for all counties and major regions of the world.
Africa’s youth population between the ages 15-20 has seen a rapid growth rate in the last 12 years according to the Population Reference Bureau’s (PRB) 2009 World Population Data Sheet.
The report said “the growth of the world’s youth population is shifting into the poorest countries’ especially Africa and Asia.
According to the report, Africa’s population which has just passed 1 billion is growing by about 24 million per year, and will double by 2050.
Carl Haub, PRB’s senior demographer and co-author of the data sheet said “the great bulk of today’s 1.2 billion youth are in developing countries with eight out of 10 living in Africa and Asia.
The report said the global population numbers will reach 7 billion in 2011, just 12 years after reaching 6 billion in 1999.
Bill Butz, president of PRB, who described the increase as ‘unprecedented in the world history”, noted that the world population is still growing despite the decline in fertility rate in many countries.
The report further stated that “during the next few decades, these young people will most likely continue the current trend of moving from rural areas to cities in search of education and training opportunities, gainful employment, and adequate health care’. It however was not sure whether these ‘expectation will be met.’
The 2009 World population data sheet provides up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for all counties and major regions of the world.
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