WORLD-POPULATION AND BIRTH-RATES - AGREEMENTS AND DISAGREEMENTS

Reviews and evaluates estimates of population size, crude birth rates, changes in crude birth rates, and measures of rates of population growth made by nine organizations, or by persons closely identified with these organizations, for the year 1975. Despite diversity and systematic biases, the convergent conclusion is clear: all nine sources document a fertility decline in the developing world in the 70s. Many of the presently high-fertility countries of the developing world are clearly experiencing the beginning of a new demographic transition.-Author