Current World Population
Net Growth During Your Visit

Fact Sheets

The subject of population touches upon a wide variety of human interests from reproductive rights to economic development to a sustainable world.  For a quick overview, see Why Population Matters.

Family Planning and Reproductive Health

Population and Failing States

Failing nations, almost without exception, have high population growth rates. Foreign Policy and the Fund for Peace publish an annual ranking of failed states. All of the top ten countries in the 2009 Failed States Index have total fertility rates (the average number of children born by a woman over her lifetime) substantially higher than the global average (2.6). Six of them had TFRs of 5.0 or higher. High fertility rates are often associated with high maternal and infant mortality rates. Early teenage pregnancy and unhealthy birth spacing, in particular, are associated with poor health outcomes for mothers and infants. High population growth rates may make it more difficult for failing states to provide adequate schooling, nutrition, immunization, and other essential services. Population pressures can also lead to environmental degradation, food insecurity, and even conflict.

Sustainable World Initiative