Population Explosion - The Concern of All Nations

There are over four and a half billion people unevenly distributed
over the world's habitable areas. The quality of their lives is to a major extent influenced by patterns of population growth and density. The population is currently growing at the rate of 1.705 per year. Some countries are already facing serious problems of over-population, manifesting themselves in the form of food shortages, inadequate housing, poor health and educational services and high unemployment rates. Others fear that patterns of modern living may lead to ecological deterioration and depletion of natural resources. The threat such situations may pose to the balance between the earth's peoples and the earth's ability to support them is becoming a priority matter for universal concern and action.

An elderly person who lives in the Emei mountain region of Sichuan Province. About one-fourth of the world's population lives in China.

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