Why We Don't Expect a Baby Boom After 9/11
A sudden event, even one as traumatic as 9/11, seems unlikely to disrupt the trend of modest increases in U.S. fertility rates. (September 2002)

Has Global Growth Reached Its Peak?
Every year, world population grows by a little over 79 million people, roughly the population of Germany, the Philippines, or Vietnam. Almost 99 percent of natural increase occurs in the less developed countries. (Population Today, August/September 2002)

Finding the Balance: Population and Water Scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa is home to 6.3 percent of the world's population yet has only 1.4 percent of the world's fresh renewable water. This policy brief is also available in Arabic. (July 2002)

Russia's Demographic Decline Continues
Migration into Russia offset over half of its natural decrease until 1998, but the flow of returnees appears to be tapering off. Recently released population estimates will likely be the last before Russia conducts its first post-Soviet census this October. (June 2002)

Out of the Closet and Onto the Census Long Form
In 1990, the census questionnaire allowed heads of household to mark "unmarried partner" to describe an adult of the same sex living in the same house. In 2000, the Census Bureau recoded any same-sex "spouse" responses as "unmarried partner" responses. But it takes some digging to gain information about the gay population in the U.S. (Population Today, May/June 2002)

Fertility Down, but Population Decline Still Not in Sight
A significant group of less developed countries has achieved "intermediate-fertility" levels. The UN population projections will continue to be closely monitored and adjusted. (Population Today, May/June 2002)

Iran Achieves Replacement-Level Fertility
With control over their reproduction Iranian women are choosing to have fewer children. Acceptance of the two-child norm is chiefly due to a campaign encouraging small families, the national health care network, government programs promoting rural development and literacy, and the Islamic leadership's support for family planning. (Population Today, May/June 2002)

Caribbean Countries “Pay” for Successfully Addressing Population Issues
Nations in the Caribbean have been so effective in dealing with their population issues that international aid agencies plan to reduce current levels of assistance. (April 2002)

Foreign-Born Make Up Growing Segment of U.S. Black Population
Immigration is making this generation of blacks in the U.S. more diverse. (Population Today, April 2002)

The West Bank and Gaza: A Population Profile
These two areas are unique entities in today’s world. Although parts of both consist of autonomous, Palestinian-governed regions, Israel and Israeli forces surround them. (April 2002)