World population to hit six billion before the millenium

“The world’s population increased last year by 78 million, and is expected to reach six billion by October 1999, according to the annual report of the Washington, US-based Population Institute. Family -Planning programmes around the World have helped cut birth rates in many countries , but a dozen of the world’s poorest countries are still expected to triple their populations by 2050. In 58 countries women give birth to an average of five or more children in a lifetime. Over-population threatens to cause severe world-wide problem such as starvation, deforestation, acid rain and habitat destruction as natural resources dwindle and energy demand increases.”