World Population Prospects, the 2010 Revision

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2011): World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. New York

(Updated: 5 July 2011)

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Key result: Population is projected to increase primarily in Africa.

Figure 13 displays the population change by major region between 2010 and 2100.

By the end of the 21st century Europe's population is projected to have declined by 63 million people as compared to 2010. It is the only major region of the world for which a population decline is projected over this period.

According to the medium variant of the 2010 World Population Prospects, Africa's population is projected to increase by almost 2.6 billion people between 2010 and 2100. This assumes that the continent will experience an average fertility decline from 4.64 children per woman in the 2005-2010 period to 2.13 children in the 2095-2100 period. If fertility would decline only half a child less (from 4.64 to 2.62 children per woman), Africa's population would increase by 4.2 billion between 2010 and 2100.

Compared to Africa, the population increase in Asia, Northern America, Latin America and Oceania is projected to be quite small between 2010 and 2100. Asia's population is projected to increase by 432 million, Northern America by 182, Latin America by 97 and Oceania by 29 million.