United Nations
TABLE 21. TEN TOP CONTRIBUTORS TO WORLD POPULATION
GROWTH, 1995-2000
Country or area
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
India
China
Pakistan
Indonesia
Nigeria
United States of America
Brazil
Bangladesh
Mexico
Philippines
WORLD
Net addition
(thousands)
Percentage
contribution
to world
population
growth
15 999
11 408
4 048
2 929
2 511
2 267
2 154
2 108
1 547
1 522
20.6
14.7
5.2
3.8
3.2
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.0
2.0
77 738
Source: United Nations Population Division.
44
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 22. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH FASTEST AND
SLOWEST RATES OF NATURAL INCREASE, 1995-2000
Country or area*
Rate of natural increase
(per cent)
A. Fastest rate of natural increase
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Gaza Strip
Yemen
Somalia
Niger
Dem. Rep. of the Congo
Solomon Islands
Oman
Mali
Afghanistan
Nicaragua
4.25
3.73
3.38
3.18
3.15
3.14
3.12
3.10
3.07
3.03
B. Slowest rate of natural increase
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Latvia
Bulgaria
Estonia
Ukraine
Russian Federation
Hungary
Belarus
Romania
Czech Republic
Lithuania
WORLD
-0.52
-0.47
-0.47
-0.43
-0.42
-0.38
-0.34
-0.23
-0.22
-0.16
1.33
Source: United Nations Population Division.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
The World at Six Billion
45
United Nations
TABLE 23. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH HIGHEST AND
LOWEST POPULATION SEX RATIO, 1999
Males per
100 females
Country or area*
A. Highest sex ratio
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Oman
China, Hong Kong SAR1
Guam
Brunei Darussalam
Samoa
Kuwait
189
174
133
124
113
112
111
110
109
109
B. Lowest sex ratio
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Latvia
Ukraine
Cape Verde
Russian Federation
Belarus
Estonia
Lithuania
Georgia
Hungary
Republic of Moldova
WORLD
83
87
87
88
89
89
89
92
92
92
101
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative
Region (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
46
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 24. TEN OLDEST AND TEN YOUNGEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, 1999 AND 2050
1999
Country or area*
2050
Median age
Country or area*
Median age
A. Oldest countries or areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Italy
Japan
Germany
Sweden
Greece
Finland
Belgium
Denmark
Croatia
Bulgaria
40.2
40.2
39.7
39.7
39.1
39.1
39.0
38.8
38.5
38.5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Spain
Czech Republic
Italy
Greece
China, Hong Kong SAR 1
Romania
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Austria
Portugal
54.3
53.3
53.2
52.5
52.2
52.2
51.5
51.2
50.2
50.0
B. Youngest countries or areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Gaza Strip
Uganda
Niger
Yemen
Dem. Republic of the Congo
Somalia
Zambia
Angola
Burkina Faso
Malawi
WORLD
14.4
15.0
15.8
15.9
15.9
16.0
16.1
16.2
16.2
16.3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Gaza Strip
Burkina Faso
Mozambique
Somalia
Ethiopia
Dem. Republic of the Congo
Angola
Guinea-Bissau
Niger
Congo
26.4
WORLD
26.9
27.6
27.7
27.8
28.1
28.1
28.3
28.3
28.3
28.3
37.8
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
The World at Six Billion
47
United Nations
TABLE 25. TEN COUNTRIES WITH HIGHEST AND LOWEST POTENTIAL
SUPPORT RATIO, 1999 AND 2050
1999
Country or area*
2050
Potential support
ratio **
Country or area*
Potential support
ratio **
A. Highest potential support ratio
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Qatar
Kuwait
United Arab Emirates
East Timor
Bahrain
Zambia
Uganda
Botswana
Rwanda
Oman
35.9
32.6
29.6
23.5
23.0
22.8
22.7
22.5
21.7
21.4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Mozambique
Uganda
Burkina Faso
Somalia
Ethiopia
Gaza Strip
Dem. Republic of the Congo
Namibia
Malawi
Niger
16.0
13.8
13.4
13.1
12.6
12.4
12.3
12.3
12.3
12.2
B. Lowest potential support ratio
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Spain
Italy
Greece
Belgium
United Kingdom
Spain
Japan
France
Norway
Germany
WORLD
3.8
3.8
3.8
4.0
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.2
4.2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Spain
Italy
Greece
China, Hong Kong (SAR)1
Czech Republic
Japan
Slovenia
Portugal
Romania
Austria
9.2
WORLD
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.9
3.9
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
**Average number of persons aged 15-64 for each person aged 65 or older.
48
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 26. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH HIGHEST
AND LOWEST FERTILITY, 1995-2000
Average number of
children per woman
Country or area*
A Highest fertility
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Yemen
Gaza Strip
Somalia
Uganda
Afghanistan
Niger
Angola
Malawi
Mali
Burkina Faso
7.60
7.30
7.25
7.10
6.90
6.84
6.80
6.75
6.60
6.57
B. Lowest fertility
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Spain
Romania
Czech Republic
Italy
Bulgaria
Latvia
Slovenia
Greece
Estonia
Germany
WORLD
1.15
1.17
1.19
1.20
1.23
1.25
1.26
1.28
1.29
1.30
2.71
Source: United Nations Population Division.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
The World at Six Billion
49
United Nations
TABLE 27. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH HIGHEST AND LOWEST
LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH, 1995-2000
Males
Country or area*
(years)
Females
Country or area*
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Japan
Iceland
Sweden
Canada
China, Hong Kong SAR1
Israel.
Greece
Cyprus
Martinique
Australia
76.8
76.8
76.3
76.1
75.8
75.7
75.6
75.5
75.5
75.5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
(years)
Country or area*
Both sexes
combined
(years)
Highest life expectancy at birth
Japan
France
Martinique
Canada
Switzerland
Spain.
China, Hong Kong SAR1
Iceland
Italy
Australia
82.9
82.0
82.0
81.8
81.8
81.5
81.4
81.3
81.2
81.1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Japan
Iceland
Canada
Martinique
Switzerland
Sweden
China, Hong Kong SAR1
Australia
Italy
Norway
80.0
79.0
79.0
78.8
78.6
78.5
78.5
78.2
78.2
78.1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sierra Leone
Malawi
Uganda
Zambia
Rwanda
Burundi
Ethiopia
Zimbabwe
Burkina Faso
Central African Republic
37.2
39.3
39.6
40.1
40.5
42.4
43.3
44.1
44.4
44.9
B. Lowest life expectancy at birth
1. Sierra Leone
2. Uganda
3. Malawi
4. Rwanda
5. Zambia
6. Burundi
7. Ethiopia
8. Central African Republic
9. Guinea-Bissau
10. Burkina Faso
35.8
38.9
38.9
39.4
39.5
41.0
42.4
42.9
43.5
43.6
WORLD
63.2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sierra Leone
Malawi
Uganda
Zambia
Rwanda
Burundi
Ethiopia
Zimbabwe
Burkina Faso
Afghanistan
38.7
39.6
40.4
40.6
41.7
43.8
44.3
44.7
45.2
46.0
67.6
65.4
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
50
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 28. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH HIGHEST AND
LOWEST INFANT MORTALITY, 1995-2000
Country or area*
Infant mortality rate
(per 1,000 live births)
A. Highest infant mortality
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sierra Leone
Afghanistan
Malawi
East Timor
Guinea-Bissau
Angola
Guinea
Rwanda
Somalia
Gambia
170
151
138
135
130
125
124
124
122
122
B. Lowest infant mortality
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Japan
Singapore
Norway
Germany
Iceland
Sweden
Finland
Australia
Switzerland
China, Hong Kong SAR1
WORLD
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
57
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special
Administrative Region of (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
The World at Six Billion
51
United Nations
TABLE 29. TEN COUNTRIES OR AREAS WITH THE GREATEST
IN-MIGRATION AND GREATEST OUT- MIGRATION, 1970-1995
Country or area
Net number
of migrants
(millions)
A. Greatest in-migration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
United States of America
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
India
Canada
Germany
France
Australia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
16.7
4.1
3.4
3.3
3.3
2.7
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
B. Greatest out-migration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Mexico
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Philippines
Kazakhstan
Viet Nam
Rwanda
Sri Lanka
Columbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
-6.0
-4.1
-4.1
-2.9
-2.6
-2.0
-1.7
-1.5
-1.3
-1.2
Source: United Nations Population Division.
52
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 30. TEN MOST AND LEAST URBANIZED COUNTRIES
OR AREAS IN THE WORLD, 1999
Country or area*
Percentage urban
A. Most urbanized
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Singapore
Guadeloupe
Macau
Kuwait
Belgium
China, Hong Kong SAR1
Western Sahara
Martinique
Gaza Strip
Qatar
100.0
99.7
98.8
97.5
97.3
95.5
94.9
94.6
94.5
92.3
B. Least urbanized
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rwanda
Bhutan
East Timor
Burundi
Nepal
Uganda
Malawi
Papua New Guinea
Ethiopia
Burkina Faso
WORLD
6.1
6.9
7.5
8.7
11.6
13.8
15.0
17.1
17.2
17.9
47.2
Source: United Nations Population Division.
1
As of 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative
Region (SAR) of China.
*Countries or areas with 150,000 persons or more in 1995.
The World at Six Billion
53
United Nations
TABLE 31. TEN LARGEST URBAN AGGLOMERATIONS IN THE WORLD, 1999
Agglomeration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Tokyo (Japan)
Mexico City (Mexico)
Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Bombay (India)
New York (United States)
Shanghai (China)
Los Angeles (United States)
Lagos (Nigeria)
Calcutta (India)
Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Population
(millions)
28.8
17.8
17.5
17.4
16.5
14.0
13.0
12.8
12.7
12.3
Source: United Nations Population Division.
54
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 32. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON THE RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Rate of population growth
Per cent of Governments with policy to
Raise
Maintain
Lower
No intervention
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
11
18
8
8
11
7
38
2
50
44
68
36
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
4
17
21
3
0
8
4
10
13
6
0
8
58
43
3
39
0
54
35
30
64
52
100
31
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Major area
Source: United Nations Population Division.
The World at Six Billion
55
United Nations
TABLE 33. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON THE LEVEL OF FERTILITY BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Level of fertility
Per cent of Governments with policy to
Raise
Maintain
Lower
No intervention
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
13
32
7
9
7
10
45
2
59
34
59
25
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
4
15
36
3
0
0
6
17
8
3
0
15
67
45
3
55
0
62
23
23
54
39
100
23
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Major area
Source: United Nations Population Division.
56
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 34. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO
CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Major area
Access to contraceptive methods
Per cent of Governments with policy of
Indirect
Direct
Limits
No support
support
support
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
1
2
1
12
20
8
7
9
7
79
68
83
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
0
3
3
0
0
0
8
20
23
3
0
0
10
3
8
9
0
8
83
75
67
88
100
92
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Source: United Nations Population Division.
The World at Six Billion
57
United Nations
TABLE 35. GOVERNMENT VIEWS ON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF
MORTALITY LEVEL BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Per cent of Governments which
view mortality level as
Major area
Acceptable
Unacceptable
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
40
70
31
60
30
69
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
13
45
69
52
50
15
87
55
31
48
50
85
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Source: United Nations Population Division.
58
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 36. GROUNDS ON WHICH ABORTION IS PERMITTED, BY MAJOR AREA, 1999
Major area
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
Per cent of countries permitting on grounds of
To preserve To preserve
Economic or
To save the
physical
mental
Rape or
Foetal
social
woman’s life
health
health
incest
impairment
reasons
On request
98
96
99
63
88
55
62
85
54
43
81
30
39
81
26
33
75
19
27
65
14
100
100
95
94
100
100
53
63
86
52
100
56
51
59
86
55
100
56
23
48
79
33
100
13
21
46
81
15
100
13
8
39
74
15
100
13
6
35
65
6
100
6
Source: United Nations Population Division.
The World at Six Billion
59
United Nations
TABLE 37. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON THE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION
(PERMANENT SETTLEMENT) BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Major area
Level of immigration (permanent settlement)
Per cent of Governments with policy to
No
Not
Raise
Maintain
Lower intervention available
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
4
2
5
26
30
25
35
59
27
24
5
30
10
5
12
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
4
5
0
9
0
8
13
33
26
24
50
62
19
47
64
18
50
15
46
15
5
33
0
0
17
0
5
15
0
15
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Source: United Nations Population Division.
60
The World at Six Billion
United Nations
TABLE 38. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON THE LEVEL OF EMIGRATION BY MAJOR AREA, 1996
Level of emigration
Per cent of Governments with policy to
Major area
Raise
Maintain
Lower
No
intervention
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
3
2
4
21
18
21
22
20
22
54
59
53
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
4
7
3
0
0
0
15
27
21
9
0
54
17
23
26
30
0
8
63
43
51
61
100
38
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Source: United Nations Population Division.
The World at Six Billion
61
United Nations
TABLE 39. GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON INTERNAL MIGRATION, 1996
Major area
Trends in internal migration
Per cent of Governments with policy to
Accelerate Decelerate
Reverse
Maintain
No
trend
trend
trend
trend
intervention
Total
Number of
countries
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
2
0
2
44
27
49
12
11
13
6
9
4
37
52
32
100
100
100
179
44
135
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania
0
7
0
0
0
0
62
46
26
36
0
6
8
13
12
15
0
13
4
4
9
3
0
6
25
17
44
45
100
56
100
100
100
100
100
100
52
40
39
33
2
13
Source: United Nations Population Division.
62
The World at Six Billion