Page 34 - Nigeria one mag 4 edition en

Population Growth Projections in Developing

Countries

Population density on a street in Lagos, Nigeria

The world population of 7.6 billion is predicted to reach Indonesia. While the projected trend for the rest of
8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in the world is lower population growth, the least
2100, according to a new united nation report that was developed countries (LDCs) continue to defy the
launched last week. With an estimated 79 million norm, as 46 countries in that category have high
persons added to the world population on a yearly basis, fertility rates of 4.2 births per woman in 2011- 2014.
the upward trend in population growth is expected to Consequently, the population of these countries is
continue, even assuming that the fertility level continues growing rapidly over the years at an estimated 2.3%
to decline. per year. However, the rate of increment in
The projections from the United nation include some population growth in the region is expected to
interesting findings at country specific levels. China and decline in the coming decades. The population of
India (with 1.4 billion inhabitants and 1.3 billion LDC is approximately 1 billion in 2021, this number
inhabitants) still remain the most populous countries in is expected to increase by 30% between 2019 and
the world, consisting 19% and 18% of the total global 2029 and to reach 1.8 billion persons in 2049.
population. However, it does appear that this trend is The same projection is made for countries in Africa,
likely to change with India expected to surpass China in between 2018 and 2049, the population of 25 African
seven years. countries are expected to expand and double in size
Amongst the ten largest populated countries across the over the stated period of time. As a result, it is
globe, Nigeria appears to be growing most rapidly. Thus, expected that the concentration of global population
it is expected that Nigeria, which is the 7th largest in the in the poorest countries of the world will present an
world, is projected to surpass that of the United States of enormous challenge to governments’ intent on
America and become the 3rd largest in the world in implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable
2049. development – that is focused on reducing hunger
From 2018 to 2051, the current projections is that half of and poverty, expand existing education and health
the world’s population growth will be found in nine care systems, reduce inequality, achieve gender
countries: Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of equality and women’s empowerment and ensure
Tanzania, India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the that every one is carried along.
Congo, the United States of America, Uganda and

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