The United Nations says half of the global population, now at 6,5 billion, will be living in urban areas by 2007.
A report by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the Economic and Social Council released Wednesday anticipates population ultimately stabilizing at about 9 billion in 2050.
– Half the worlds population is expected to live in urban areas by 2007, said a report summary. – Although the number of very large urban agglomerations is increasing, about half of all urban-dwellers live in small settlements with fewer than 500.000 inhabitants. The proportion of older persons is expected to continue rising well into the 21ast century, it said.
The report said most countries – both developed and developing – have seen significant declines in fertility, in line with the increased use of contraceptives. At the same time, however, the population of many countries in Africa and Asia was expected to grow considerably in the coming decades.
Kilde: The Push Journal
