Countries on left are ranked according to projected population growth from 1997-2005.";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Russian Federation","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_russia.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Given its natural resources, Russia’s population is not large. With the growth of trade, Russians have ready access to imported contraceptives. They also rely heavily on abortion, which is readily available. Chaos, not population growth, is Russia’s problem. The collapse of government structures, including a weaker health care system, and increasing use of alcohol and tobacco has lowered the average life span. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Japan","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_japan.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Japan’s population is barely replacing itself. This worries politicians — despite the country’s crowded conditions — who see it as a sign that national power is waning. Even so, in step with their western counterparts, young people in this well-educated, prosperous country are opting to have fewer children, and have them later in life. After many years debate and pressure from women’s groups, Japan approved birth control pills — a step that should help ensure a low growth scenario for the future.
";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","United States","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_us.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "The U.S. population is growing fast — making it an exception among developed nations. One factor is immigration. About 800,000 legal and 200,000 illegal immigrants come to the U.S. annually. First-generation immigrants from poor countries tend to have about twice as many children than other Americans. Also, the U.S. has the highest teen pregnancy rate among developed countries. These trends may push the U.S. population to 388 million by 2050, from its current level of 273 million.
";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","China","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/Population_CHINA_test.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Momentum is China’s problem. Beijing’s efforts to control population growth in the last decades have been legendary, and many say draconian, dramatically lowering the number of children born to each woman. But even as the birth rate falls, the country adds an estimated 12 million people to its population each year, because it already has such a large base population. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Brazil","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_brazil.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "The state has been unwilling to make large investments in family planning, because of potential conflicts with the Catholic Church. However, the private sector, and individual states have made birth control widely available, and experts say that individuals have embraced family planning, despite their religious backgrounds. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","India","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_india.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "India’s population, which has just hit the 1 billion mark, adds 17 million new people a year. Despite spending heavily over the decades on population control, India’s government has made important strategic errors, say experts. For one, New Delhi emphasized unpopular means such as sterilization, instead of making contraceptives available. As a result, India will soon surpass China to be the world’s largest population. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Indonesia","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_indonesia.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Indonesia’s government has invested heavily in family planning and succeeded in bringing the fertility rate (the number of children born to each woman) down dramatically. The Islamic and other local traditions mean the government is reluctant to provide certain services, however, such as sterilization and abortion. This factor, and an “echo effect” from the high fertility rates of the past mean Indonesia is still growing as much as 1.6 percent a year. It is the world’s fourth most populous country. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Bangladesh","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_bangladesh.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest nations has made steady progress in family planning, with strong government support. Even though women have, on average, 3.3 children, people hail Bangladesh a success. Early abortion is allowed, despite Islamic sensitivities, and the country’s leaders have consistently named population a top priority. There are still challenges, especially in rural areas, where the feudal system still holds sway, encouraging large families to build up the clan. ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Pakistan","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_pakistan.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Pakistan has done little to rein in its fast-growing population, and in the coming years it will make the largest contribution to world population after China and India. Women in Pakistan have, on average, 5.6 children each. There are prohibitions against abortion — in part because of Islamic fundamentalism. Population programs are politically sensitive, thus largely neglected. Though there are glimmers of change, Pakistan is, in the words of a U.S. population expert, “in big trouble.” ";
PopulousCountries2_dw[i++] = new Array("","Nigeria","","http://www.msnbc.com/d/ip/PopulousCountries_dw/dw_population_nigeria.gif","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "180", "178", "", "", "", "", "");
PopulousCountries2_dw[i-1].body = "Nigerian women have, on average, 6.2 children each — a large number even for Sub-Saharan Africa, the world’s fastest growing area. War and dislocation, combined with weak government structures that provide few services leave few options for people in terms of birth. In specific tribal groups, there are strong cultural forces that promote large families. Private services are available to the very wealthy, but the GDP per capita is just $280 a year in Nigeria. In most of Sub-Saharan Africa, population growth outstrips economic growth, deepening poverty. ";
// END editorial data