"The world’s population increased last year by 78 million, and is expected to reach six billion by October 1999, according to the annual report of the Washington, US-based Population Institute. Family -Planning programmes around the World have helped cut birth rates in many countries , but a dozen of the world’s poorest countries are still expected to triple their populations by 2050. In 58 countries women give birth to an average of five or more children in a lifetime. Over-population threatens to cause severe world-wide problem such as starvation, deforestation, acid rain and habitat destruction as natural resources dwindle and energy demand increases."