21.   But the UN action plan for slowing the population boom and boosting development has come under fire from the Vatican which says it promotes abortion.

22.   They were being taken out because living conditions could be expected to deteriorate because of strains on water, sewage and other facilities as the population booms.

23.   Most of the population boom will occur in the poorest countries, the Population Reference Bureau said in its annual report.

24.   Oil consumption has risen sharply in Iran in recent years, largely due to the population boom.