LAHORE, 25. January 2009: Pakistan is the highest population growth country in the South Asian region with average annual growth of 2.3 percent, World Banks “World development report for 2009” has revealed.
Pakistan with 162 million people has been witnessing an annual population growth of 2,3 percent, which is higher from other regional countries ie India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
The population of Nepal grew by 2 percent annually, followed by 1,4 percent of India, 1 percent Bangladesh and 0,4 percent Sri Lanka. India was heading in terms of total population with 1,123 billion, followed by Pakistan with 162 million, Bangladesh 159 million, Nepal 28 million and Sri Lanka with only 20 million.
The report further said that Pakistans per capita income was less than India and Sri Lanka and more relative to Nepal and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka was ahead in per capita income with 1.540 US dollar followed by Indias 950 dollar.
Pakistan per capita income was reported at 840 dollar with Bangladeshs 470 dollar and Nepal 340 dollar. Further analysis of the data showed an increasing trend of urbanisation in Pakistan as compared to other regional countries owing to urban-rural disparities.
About 96 and 92 percent people have access to water and sanitation facilities in urban areas as compared to 89 and 41 percent respectively in rural areas. The growth in urbanisation increased from 33,2 in 2000 to 34,9 percent in 2005 and is projected to go over 39,9 percent of the total population in 2015.
The trend of urbanisation was low in other regional countries and in Sri Lanka it decelerated from 15,7 percent in 2000 to 15,1 percent in 2005 and forecast to reach 15,7 percent by 2015. In Sri Lanka about 98 percent people have access to water and sanitation in rural areas.
India also saw a rise in urbanisation and its urban population increased from 27,7 percent in 2000 to 28,7 percent in 2005 and is expected to reach 32 percent in 2015.
About 95 percent in urban areas of India have access to water as compared to 83 percent people of rural areas. Similarly, 59 percent people in urban areas have access to sanitation facilities against 22 percent in rural Indians.
The population in Bangladesh urban cities has increased from 23,2 percent in 2000 to 25,1 percent in 2005 and is projected to grow to 29,9 percent by 2015.
82 percent of people in urban cities of Bangladesh have access to water as compared to 51 percent in rural areas. 51 percent people in urban areas of Bangladesh have access to sanitation against 35 percent in rural areas.
The trend of people moving to cities was also seen in Nepal where urban population has increased to 15,8 percent in 2005 from 13,4 percent in 2000 and is anticipated to reach 20,9 percent by 2015.
96 percent people in urban Nepal have access to water facilities against 89 percent in rural while 62 percent population in urban areas has access to sanitation as compared to 30 percent in rural areas.
Kilde: The Push Journal
