Latin America: Demographic Problems and Socio-economic Development

Abstract

One of the most important processes operating in the contemporary world is the acceleration of the rate of population growth, particularly in the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. These countries, which account for more than four-fifths of the general increase in world population, have an exceptionally high rate of growth. In the last decade, the average annual rate of population growth has been 1.9 per cent worldwide, 2.2 per cent in Asia, 2.7 per cent in Africa and 2.8 per cent in Latin America, as against 0.6 per cent in the developed countries of Europe. Many political leaders and scientists believe that this ‘population explosion’ not only aggravates a whole series of economic, political and social problems, but that it is even the cause of poverty and hunger.

Translated from Spanish. Author’s references are to Spanish language editions.