AFRICA: HIV/AIDS slows population growth - UN

JOHANNESBURG, 1 Mar 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - HIV/AIDS is increasing the global rate of mortality and slowing population growth, especially in hard-hit parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the UN has said.

Highlighting Southern Africa in its recent report, 'World Population Prospects: the 2004 Revision', the organisation says life expectancy fell from 62 years between 1990 and 1995 to 48 years between 2000 and 2005 as a result of the pandemic.

The region is estimated to have the world's highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS and average life span is projected to drop to around 43 years over the next decade before a slow recovery starts.

"As a consequence, population growth in the region is expected to stall between 2005 and 2020," says the study.

Access the report: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WPP2004/WPP2004-HIGHLIGHTS_Final.pdf

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