World Population and Development WORLD 'J BANK INFORMATION ,, BRIEFS Rapid population growth aggravates already serious economic, social and environmental problems facing developing countries. High fertility raises health risks for mothers and children, and impedes poor families' efforts to escape poverty. Slower population growth helps governments invest more effectively in human resource development and buys them time to deal with issues such as debt and environmental degradation. Our world is becoming more and more crowded. Population has more than doubled since 1950, from 2.5 billion to 5.5 billion. Most of the 90 to 100 million people added to the world population each year-the largest increases in history-are born in the developing countries. Population growth rates have peaked, however, and since the late 1960s have been falling gradually as fertility rates have gone down. But population growth will continue even after couples have reduced their fertility to an average of two children. This is because high fertility in the recent past means that more and more young people will be entering into their reproduc- tive years for several generations to come. Not until the 22nd century is world population projected to stabilize-at which time it will number some 12 billion people. No wonder these numbers have created concern about the earth's capacity to sustain its population, and about the ability of some of the poorest countries, where population growth is often greatest, to raise the living standards of their people. What can be done? Why Population Is a Problem The good news is that the rapid increase in popula- tion is partly due to steep drops in death rates, a welcome consequence of better health conditions. On the other hand, more people on earth means it is even more difficult for governments of many developing countries to achieve the already tough task of meeting basic human needs, reducing poverty and offsetting unsustainable pressure on natural resources. This is why population issues are important to the Bank's central objective of poverty reduction being pursued both through equitable economic growth and through human resource development, namely basic education and health care. As World Bank President, Lewis T. Preston said in his 1992 Address to the Board of Governors: "Popu- lation policies are also linked to poverty reduction and environmental protection. Each year the world's population grows by about 100 million people. The population of some of the world's poorest countries will double within two decades. Experience in East Asia and elsewhere confirms that income growth- coupled with an emphasis on human resource develop- ment-can reduce fertility, poverty and environmental damage." Putting Proper Policies in Place As Mr. Preston noted, there is much to be learned from the experience of the last 30 years. A broad approach to population issues and a focus on the needs of the poor in most countries will provide the setting for sustained fertility decline. This is very much a question of putting in place proper policies and pro- grams conducive to fertility reduction. Such necessary policies include providing family planning services to allow couples to space and limit their families, and health and education programs that create the social and economic conditions that lead to desiring fewer children and having confidence in their survival. Policies are also needed to protect the poor from the worst effects of unplanned growth. For instance, rapid growth in urban areas require policies to provide safe water, infrastructure, primary health care and education, etc. Effective Family Planning Programs Family planning programs, both public and private, have helped halve the time required for the transition from high fertility (six to eight children per woman) to low fertility (about two children per woman). Programs have raised contraceptive use in coun- Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized