Key findings

• The world’s population tripled in the period 1950–2010 to reach almost 7 billion.
• There are approximately 57 million more men than women in the world, yet in most countries there are more women than men.
• There is a “gender spiral”, with more boys and men in younger age groups and more women in the older age groups.
• Fertility is steadily declining in all regions of the world, though it still remains high in some regions of Africa.
• Life expectancy is steadily rising, with women living longer than men.
• International migration is increasing. There are more and more women migrants, and in certain areas they outnumber men.
• The age at marriage for women continues to rise – and it remains high for men.
• In family life women overwhelmingly carry the workload, although in some countries the gap has narrowed significantly.

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Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision (2009).