Sydney Redux: Bahamas Defends Demographic Olympics Title
According to demographer Kelvin Pollard, the Bahamas were the big 2004 Summer Olympics winners, according to the "crude medal rate." (September 2004)

2004 World Population Data Sheet (PDF: 371KB)
PRB's 2004 World Population Data Sheet contains the latest population estimates, projections, and other key indicators for more than 200 countries, including births, deaths, natural increase, infant mortality, life expectancy, urban population, HIV/AIDS prevalence, contraceptive use, land area, and population per square mile. (August 2006)

Empowering Communities to Reduce the Impact of Infectious Diseases
To reduce the impact of infectious diseases on women, some programs are employing community-based approaches conducted by women: a Guinea-worm control program in Ghana and a dengue project in Puerto Rico. (May 2004)

The Wealth Gap in Health (PDF: 136KB)

 Despite improvements in public health in the last half-century, large disparities still exist between and within countries in a range of health and population indicators: fertility, infant and child mortality, nutrition, and the use of family planning and other health services. (May 2004)

Transitions in World Population (PDF: 249KB)
This Population Bulletin chronicles changes in world population in the last century, with a particular focus on the last 50 years. It examines the social and economic factors that affect population change, including wide disparities in income, education, and women's status within countries. It also discusses the heightened international concern since the 1950s about rapid population growth, widespread fertility declines, and the new world consensus reached in the 1990s about how best to respond to population trends.  (BUL59.1, March 2004)

Social and Political Divisions Frustrate Efforts to Improve Venezuelans' Lives
Despite its large petroleum reserves and mineral deposits, high levels of inequity and poverty plague Venezuela, and massive antigovernment protests are symbolic of deep divisions. (March 2004)

Haiti's Health Indicators Reflect Its Political and Economic Pains
Two hundred years after securing independence from France, Haiti remains a troubled country. With decades of political violence, persistent poverty, and poor health conditions, the world's first black-led republic is better known as a country in crisis than one with a rich political and cultural history. (January 2004)

Gender, Health, and Development in the Americas 2003

 This data sheet profiles gender differences in health and development in 48 countries in the Americas. (December 2003)

Reproductive Health Programs Need to Involve Men
Conflicting interests and inequities between men and women pose serious obstacles to good health. Recently, however, there has been increased awareness of the need to actively involve men in reproductive health programs. (November 2003)

Latin America and the Caribbean Country Profiles (PDF: 1.39MB)
These UNFPA/PRB country profiles for 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries includes 10 from the Caribbean, eight from Central America and 12 from South America. At the beginning of 2003, the region’s total population was 534 million and was growing at a rate of 1.46 percent — down from 1.72 percent during 1990-1995. (October 2003)