Family Planning Programs Will Lead to One-Third Reduction in Developing-World Population by 2100

The population of the developing world is 412 million people smaller than it would have been if there had been no family planning programs. This report focuses on the impact of family planning programs on fertility decline and population growth in developing countries. According to the UN estimates the total fertility rate (TFR) in the developing world declined from 6.1 lifetime births per woman in 1960-65 to 4.2 per women in 1980-85. The analysis showed that in the absence of family programs the TFR in 1980-85 would have been 5.4 births per woman 1.2 births more than the estimated TFR for that period. In addition the researchers projected the effects of such programs on future fertility and found that the estimated population by the year 2100 will be 10 billion one-third lower than it would have been if there were no family planning programs. The researchers conclude that family planning programs had a significant effect on population growth in developing countries.