This paper presents the contributions of each demographic component—the current age structure of population, fertility, mortality and migration—to future population growth. Quantifying the roles of the demographic drivers of future population trends is important for developing policies and programmes aimed at balancing impending demographic changes and social, economic and environmental objectives.
Contributions of demographic components have been estimated by constructing a series of appropriate cohort-component population projections: Standard, Natural, Replacement and Momentum. The analysis is based on the 2012 Revision of World Population Prospects. Results are presented for 201 countries or areas with total population of more than 90,000 inhabitants as of July 1, 2013 and for the world, major areas and regions.