World population will grow from 7.3 billion to 8.4 billion between 2015 and 2030, the UN said in a report on Tuesday.
The report presented at the 48th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development noted that there was urgent need for integrating population issues into the post-2015 development agenda.
In a message to session, the UN Secretary-General, Ban- Ki Moon, said the international community was going to set of sustainable development goals to be influenced by profound demographic shifts.
He said there would deliberate attempt at highlighting issues relating to youth, the elderly, urbanisation and migration in the agenda.
He noted that all regions, except Europe, are expected to record increases of 15 per cent or more in the size of their urban populations.
“Already more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and that proportion will grow over the next 15 years.
“There is urgency in the efforts to optimise the benefits of urbanisation and overcome its challenges,” he said.
Ban said that over the next 15 years roughly two billion children would reach school age.
He said that the share of older persons in the population is projected to increase from 12 per cent in 2015 to 16 per cent in 2030.
“This requires enhancing education for both girls and boys, ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health care and creating more decent jobs.
“We must forge societies where older persons can contribute to the fullest and enjoy the social protections they deserve,’’ he said.
The session would end on Friday.
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