The Population Reference Bureau has released the 2008 World Population Data Sheet, an excellent annual reference to world population and trends. Some highlights this year include:
- The demographic divide—the inequality in the population and health profiles of rich and poor countries—is widening.
- In 2008, for the first time, half of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
- Despite some improvement, maternal mortality continues to be very high in developing countries.
- Worldwide, women now average 2.6 children during their lifetimes, 3.2 in developing countries excluding China, and 4.7 in the least developed countries.
- In less developed countries, 18 percent of the population is undernourished.
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