Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2007
Next PageMain Text > Part II ODA DISBURSEMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005 > Chapter 2 Details about Japan's ODA > Section 2. Measures for Each of the Priority Issues > 3. Addressing Global Issues > (3) Population
(3) Population
<Current Status>
It is expected that with the steady rise of the world population, the 6.7 billion people as of July 2007 will reach 9.2 billion people by 2050.51 The average annual population growth rate is 1.1%. Meanwhile, among the developing countries there continues to be a tendency for poor countries to have a higher population growth rate, significantly affecting poverty, unemployment, food shortage, unqualified education, and environmental deterioration in those countries; hence addressing this issue is urgent. For example, the population growth rates in three countries in which per capita GNI is about US$700: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea-Bissau, are 3.7%, 3.1%, and 2.9%, respectively. The population growth rates in conflict-torn Somalia and Afghanistan are 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively.
<Japan's Efforts>
The population issue has two sides. One is of individual level, that is, how each person within the population retains reproductive health and rights as well as how to bear and raise children. Another is of national level such as poverty, shortage of food, water and energy, environmental degradation, and population migration that are largely influenced by population trends. Regarding these issues, assistance through international organizations is effective, such as the one through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which possess specialized knowledge on population as well as international networks.
In FY2006 Japan contributed ¥3.8 billion to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and ¥1.5 billion to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). These organizations provide support for improving the health of pregnant and nursing women and for promoting maternal and child health, as well as collecting and analyzing population-related data such as the census of developing countries, enhancing women's capabilities, and educating and advocating adolescents, reportedly accounting for over 1.2 billion of the world population.
Moreover, in March 2007, Japan provided clinical beds, labor beds, and operating beds, and delivered instruments and medicines as needed for emergency obstetric treatment to UNFPA Emergency Aid Projects in Burundi, Palestine, and Nepal through emergency grant aid. By assisting childbirth, such measures support reproductive health and rights.