World's population now 7 billion
The world’s population now stands at seven billion, and Asia remains home to 60 percent of the world’s people, the 2011 State of the World Population report by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed Wednesday.
The report retains the Philippines as the 12th most populous country in the world with 94.9-million people while China continues to be the most populous nation at 1.35 billion, followed by India at 1.24 billion.
However, the population division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that India will overtake China with 1.46-billion people in 2025 against China’s 1.39 billion on the same year.
“The issue of population is a critical one for humanity and for the Earth. But let us be clear: it is a matter of space. The population question is one of human equity and opportunity,” Ugochi Daniels, UNFPA country representative, said in her speech in Wednesday’s launch of the world population report at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.
“Educating and empowering girls and women allow them to have fewer children than their mothers and grandmothers did, and they choose this path whenever and wherever they can. We must consistently involve boys and men, for they are the critical partners we require for health and development,” Daniels said.
Daniels pointed out that there are three common situations shaping populations today.
Manila Bulletin
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