If current rates continue, the world's population will double in less than 50 years. Births and Deaths Population is increasing rapidly because of the drop in death rates . Before World War II, both death rates and birthrates were high in developing countries. Around 1950, better health care and sanitation caused death rates to fall rapidly. At the same time birthrates remained high.
Most population growth is in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Many of these countries do not have enough resources to support their growing populations. Most poor people in these countries live in rural areas. Many of these people have to struggle to fill the basic needs of food, clean water, and homes. As population grows, land is cleared for people. As land is cleared, wildlife and their habitats disappear, usually forever.