Illustrative Projections of World Populations to the 21st Century, Current Population Reports

摘要

The population projections presented in this report were originally prepared for the Council on Environmental Quality as part of an overall study to assess the probable changes in the world's population and the resulting demands that would be made on the natural resources and the environment through the end of the century. Projections of the population of the world and of selected regions and countries to the year 2000 are shown in high-medium-low series form as a way of acknowledging the uncertainty which is necessarily involved. The effective base date for the projections in this report is generally July 1, 1975. A brief introductory text contains population projections for the world, major regions, selected countries, and the age structure prepared by the Census Bureau; some alternative projections by other organizations; a discussion of projection methods; and a section on definitions and explanations of terms. The medium Census Bureau projection for the year 2000 envisions a world population of 6.35 billion persons. Medium projections included by other organizations range from 5.883 to 6.254 billion persons. The ratio of persons in less developed to developed regions will be roughly 4:1. The remainder of the volume is taken up with detailed tables concerning population and its distribution; age and sex structure; growth, birth, death, and total and age-specific fertility rates; life expectancy; and alternative population projections.