Rapid population growth impacts on health

As the population grows, so too does the demand for health care. Health care is already stretched to the limits in many developing countries.

• Just over half of all births in developing countries take place without a skilled doctor, nurse or midwife.
• One woman dies every minute of every day from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Many of these women would still be alive if they could have prevented their unintended pregnancies.

The impact of population growth on water

As the population grows, there is less water for each person. More than any other resource, water places constraints on the growth of the human population. The amount of fresh water available on the planet is finite.

• There is no more water today than there was 2,000 years ago when the world population was less than three per cent of its current size.
• Two billion people in 80 countries live in areas of chronic water shortage. Some of these countries are expecting their population to double in fewer than 25 years.

The impact of population growth on food

• Some 840 million people - about one in seven worldwide - do not get enough food to eat.
• About 500 million people are severely malnourished.

The impact of population growth on employment

As the population of a country grows, extra jobs must be found.

• In Papua New Guinea, 36,000 young people leave school every year to compete for a mere 1,000 available jobs.