The population of the developing world is currenty expanding at the unprecedented rate of more than 800 million per decade, and despite anticipated reductions in growth during the 21st century, its size is expected to increase from 4.3 billon today to 10.2 billon in 2100. Past efforts to curb this growth have almost exclusively focused on the implementation of family planning programs to provide contraceptive information, services, and supplies. These programs have been partially successful in reducing birth rates. Further investments in them will have additional but limited impact on population growth; therefore, the policy options, in particular measures to reduce high demand for births and limit population momentum, are needed.
Reference
Bongaarts, J., 1994: Population Policy Options in the Developing World. Science, 263, 771-776.