Another striking trend is the changes in the age distribution of the world population. In general, the world population is growing older. A UN report indicates that 20 years have been added to the expected lifespan as a result of declining fertility and mortality rates. As a result of this trend, the proportion of persons over 50 will increase from 1 in 14 to 1 in 4. Social challenges include developing policies that address income, social security, housing, health care needs, and maintaining social structures that provide family and community support for continued independence.
Shifts are also evident in the proportion of people who live in urban and rural areas.
The trend is toward urbanization and a related decline of the rural populations. Estimates indicate that 50 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2005 and that over 60 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2025. Comparisons among more developed, less developed, and least developed regions are striking. The urbanization of the world's population creates the potential for numerous social problems including overcrowding, increased crime, shortages of food supplies, poverty, addictions, and loss of networks of social support more likely found in rural communities. Back to top 2.