Troublesome Trends: Population Growth, Distribution, Migration

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At the same time that world population growth has reached an all-time high, population distribution within countries is increasingly being altered by changing demographics and rural-urban migration. The number of cross-border migrants and refugees has also risen sharply.

The International Conference on Population and Development is to consider action to help stabilize population growth rates, ease pressures underlying rapid urbanization and migration within and across borders, and safeguard the rights of international migrants and refugees. Demographic issues, such as the ageing of populations, will also be addressed.

In fact, there are significant differences among regions and countries in population growth and distribution, with important implications for the ultimate size and regional distribution of the world population. For example, more than 93 per cent of the 93 million people being added to the population each year are in developing countries.

Moreover, while many …