Hanover, Germany (dpa) - The world's population on New Year's Day
is set to reach 6.75 billion, a German group that encourages birth
control said Tuesday.
The World Population Foundation of Germany said the planet's human
population rose by 82 million this year.
Its best estimate from its own data was that world population on
January 1 would reach 6,751,643,600.
The Hanover-based group said almost all the growth in numbers was
in developing nations, where women faced multiple pregnancies whether
they wanted them or not because contraception was not available.
Resources, education and health care were in short supply in those
nations because of rising population, the foundation said.
A child born today in Germany can expect to live 79 years on
average, but an African can only expect 54 years.
"If we want to tackle poverty at the source, we have to help women
avoid unwanted pregnancy," said Renate Baehr, the secretary of the
foundation. "We have to spend more on sex education and
contraception."
Copyright 2008 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH