World Population Now
7 Billion

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

1.7 million Native Youth

Native Brief: NEW YORK - Just think, you are now part of 7 billion. People that is.

The world's population has reached 7 billion people today, according the United Nations Development Fund.

"Since 1968, the population of our world has doubled, and will surpass 7 billion on 31 October of this year. Despite major declines in the average number of children per women, population growth is projected to continue at least until the middle of the 21st century," according to a news release issued last week by the United Nations Development Fund.

Of the world's 7 billion, 1.8 billion are young people between the ages of 10 and 24, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the Fund noted. "Young people hold the key to the future, with the potential to transform the global political landscape and to propel economies through their creativity and capacities for innovation. But the opportunity to realize youth's great potential must be seized now," Dr. Osotimehin said. "We should be investing in the health and education of our youth. This would yield enormous returns in economic growth and development for generations to come."

In the United States there are some 1.7 million Native youth.

So it is appropriate leading national American Indian and Alaska Native organizations are going to focus on Native youth during this year's American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

posted October 31, 2011 8:30 am edt