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19. The acceleration of population growth in tits Third World and the decline in fertility levels in Industrial countries are changing age distribution patterns radically. In developing countries, the young predominate. In 1980, 39 per cent of developing, country populations were younger than 15; the figure for industrialized countries was only 23 per cent. Yet in these countries, the proportion of the elderly is qrowing. Those 65 or older accounted for 11 percent of the population in 1980; in developing countries, they represented only 4 per cent. Thus in the industrial world, relatively fewer people of working age will bear the burden of supporting relatively larger numbers of older people.

20. A changing age structure helps to set patterns of future population growth. The large number of young people in developing countries means large numbers of future parents, so that even if each person produces fewer children, the total number of births will continue to increase. Population growth can continue to grow for some decades after fertility rates decline to the 'replacement level' of slightly over two children on average per couple. Thus in many nations, high population growth rates over the next few generations are assured. /…