World Population Highlights 2004
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(August 2004) World population statistics tell a powerful story about how people and nations around the world are changing. The data can be used to gauge progress in a particular country, make comparisons across countries, and help project future trends. This policy brief provides highlights of PRB's 2004 World Population Data Sheet, focusing on key demographic and health trends that are shaping the 21st century.
The world's population is growing substantially every year, but the pace of growth varies dramatically from one region to another. Some countries have aging populations and, as a result, face future population decline, while others still have young and rapidly growing populations. Each situation is associated with its own set of social, economic, environmental, and political challenges. In much of the developing world, policymakers and researchers are monitoring two major demographic and health trends—the trend toward smaller families and the progression of the AIDS epidemic.