Statistical Papers - United Nations (Ser. a), Population and Vital Statistics Report – serie

Global population aging, an outcome of demographic transition, is impacting countries worldwide. This report focuses on developing nations with high fertility rates (at least 4 births per woman), particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It explores the challenges and opportunities these countries encounter in harnessing the ""demographic dividend"" during the period when the working-age population grows faster than the total population, as highlighted in the World Population Prospects 2022. While Asian LDCs are concluding the transition to lower mortality and fertility, African counterparts are in early stages. Case studies from two Asian and two sub-Saharan African countries analyze the gradual shift to older age structures and its impact on realizing the demographic dividend. Examining demographic, economic, social, cultural, and historical contexts, the report assesses challenges and opportunities in anticipating and preparing for population aging. Insights and best practices from countries at various transition stages form the basis for policy recommendations, aiming to guide LDC governments in fostering sustainable development, social inclusion, and adaptation to aging societies. These recommendations leverage the temporary increase in the working-age population, creating a window of opportunity for strategic planning.

The Population Division prepares the official United Nations population estimates and projections, which serve as the standard figures on population for use throughout the United Nations system, including for the global monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals. The estimates and projections are one of five flagship data products of the Population Division, each consisting of a comprehensive global dataset on a specific topic: population estimates and projections, population policies, numbers of international migrants (stock), family planning indicators, and estimates and projections of urban and rural populations. This publication is the only one that presents results from biannually updated population estimates and projections and covers all 237 countries or areas of the world over the time span of 1950-2100.

The Population and Vital Statistics Report presents data for countries or areas on population size (total, male, and female) from the latest available census, estimated total population size for the latest available year, and the number and rate of vital events (live births, deaths, and infant deaths) for the latest available year within the past 15 years. These data are presented as reported by national statistical authorities to the Demographic Yearbook of the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The United Nations population estimates and projections form a comprehensive set of demographic data to assess population trends at the global, regional and national levels. They are used in the calculation of many of the key development indicators commonly used by the United Nations system, including for more than one third of the indicators used to monitor progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects is the twenty-sixth edition of the official United Nations population estimates and projections, which have been prepared since 1951 by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The 2019 revision presents population estimates from 1950 until the present for 235 countries or areas, which have been developed through country-specific analyses of historical demographic trends. It builds on previous revisions by incorporating additional results from the 2010 and 2020 rounds of national population censuses as well as information from vital registration and recent nationally representative household sample surveys. The 2019 revision also presents population projections to the year 2100 that reflect a range of plausible outcomes at the global, regional and country levels. These Highlights summarise key population trends described by the estimates and projections presented in World Population Prospects 2019.

This report presents new estimates of the levels and trends in adolescent fertility worldwide over the past 30 years (from 1990-1995 to 2005-2010) and, where data are available, disaggregates adolescent fertility and the factors underlying by age.

The 2015 Revision will build on the previous revision by incorporating the findings of new population censuses and specialized demographic surveys, which have been published since the previous revision. This comprehensive review of worldwide demographic trends and future prospects is essential for assessing the degree of progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to guide policies aimed at achieving the new post-2015 development agenda, which Member States will adopt this fall. The full results of the 2015 revision will be made available in the form of a two volume report.

Drawing on information published in the World Population Policies Database, this data booklet provides up-to-date information on government policies on reproductive health issues, including access to family planning, policies to promote sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, laws on abortion and programmes to reduce maternal mortality, for all 193 Member States, 2 Observer States and 2 non-member States of the United Nations. The booklet also provides latest estimates of contraceptive use and unmet need, maternal mortality ratio, antenatal care and delivery care, adolescent fertility and other selected indicators. The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs was established to play an active role in the intergovernmental dialogue on population and development, producing constantly updated demographic estimates and projections for all countries, including data essential for the monitoring of development around the world.