Global Population Trends and Health

In 1963, the average number of babies born per

woman in the world was five, but it was a

divided world. Can you see that?

These countries over here, the developed countries, they had

small families and long lives. And then there were the

developing countries over here, and they had large

families and short lives, and very few were in between.

But now we'll see what has happened. I start the world.

Here we go.

And you can see that China is getting, the big bubble is getting to better

health, and then they start family planning.

They move along to smaller families.

And the big green... Look at Mexico. Mexico is coming there.

And this is, uh, Brazil also, the green in Latin America.

And here India is following. India is following.

The big red bubbles are Asian countries going this way.

Many Africans are still with many babies born per woman.

And then Bangladesh over there overtakes India on its way to the small

family. And now almost all go up to this bubble.

Even Africa now starts to move up. Ooh, that was the earthquake in Haiti.

Uh, and now everyone ends up there. What a change we have.

Today, you know, in the world the average is

2.5.

Imagine. You know, it used to be, 50 years ago, five,

and the world has changed. The average number of babies born per

woman have gone from five to 2.5, and it's

still decreasing. What a big change.

Bangladesh was over there, and they had on average

seven babies per woman, and lifespan was less than 50

years. So what has happened after independence?

Indeed, you know, life is getting longer and babies fewer.

Six, five, and life even longer. Four, three, and they land

now almost to two. It's 2.2, and the

lifespan is 70.

People would think that Bangladesh and countries like

that is some sort of epicenter of a population bomb.

They couldn't be more wrong. To me, health workers like

Mrs. Taslima and their colleagues, who have taken their

countries from this side all over in a few

decades to much better health and small families,

they are the heroes of our time.