World Urbanization Prospects, the 2011 Revision

7 April 2012, New York

Africa and Asia together will account for 86 per cent of all growth in the world’s urban population over the next four decades, adding that this unprecedented increase will pose new challenges in terms of jobs, housing and infrastructure. Africa’s urban population will increase from 414 million to over 1.2 billion by 2050 while that of Asia will soar from 1.9 billion to 3.3 billion, according to the 2011 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects, produced by the UN Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). FULL ARTICLE

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International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS 2010)

5 April 2012, New York

The International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS 2010) provides a comprehensive methodological framework for collection and compilation of international merchandise trade statistics in all countries, irrespective of the level of development of their statistical system. FULL ARTICLE

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United Nations Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries

5 April 2012, New York

The United Nations has updated a set of guidelines to prevent double taxation between countries, as well as to avoid tax evasion, which costs countries $3.1 trillion every year. FULL ARTICLE

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United Nations E-Government Survey 2012: E-Government for the People

15 March 2012, New York

“The increasing role of e-government in promoting inclusive and participatory development has gone hand-in-hand with the growing demands for transparency and accountability in all regions of the world,” said Sha Zukang, UN DESA Under-Secretary-General in the newly released United Nations E-government Survey 2012. FULL ARTICLE

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Forests for People

9 February 2012, New York

On 9 February, DESA’s UN Forum on Forests Secretariat launched the Forests for  People book as part of the special event marking the closing of the International Year of Forests 2011. Including articles from 75 authors from 35 countries, it celebrates the interconnections between people and forests and promotes greater understanding of their economic, environmental and social values. The 300-page fully illustrated publication is a collaborative effort between the UNFF Secretariat and Tudor Rose publishing. FULL ARTICLE

UN World Youth Report 2011: Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the Pursuit

6 February 2012, New York

“The social, economic and political costs of a prolonged youth unemployment crisis are high. It is therefore obvious that there is an urgency in addressing the youth employment crisis, but youth employment cannot be tackled without the involvement and participation of youth. It is with this in mind that the current World Youth Report is dedicated to the voices of young people themselves,” said Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of UN DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development at today’s launch. FULL ARTICLE

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012

17 January 2012, New York

The world economy is teetering on the brink of another major downturn. As in 2008, economic woes in the major developed economies are weakening economic prospects around the world. This and other findings were presented as DESA’s flagship report the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2012 was launched today in Addis Ababa, Beijing, Geneva, Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi. FULL ARTICLE

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Disability and the Millennium Development Goals

1 January 2012, New York

Released in December 2011, the report Disability and the Millennium Development Goals: A Review of the MDG Process and Strategies for Inclusion of Disability Issues in Millennium Development Goal Efforts, examines the MDGs and its relation to disability issues with a view to impact the post-2015 development agenda. It is intended to provide a “road map” for how and why disability can and should be included in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of MDG-related programmes and policies. FULL ARTICLE

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Demographic Yearbook 2009-2010

1 January 2012, New York

The Demographic Yearbook 2009-2010 is the sixty-first in a series published by the United Nations since 1948. It contains tables including a world summary of selected demographic statistics, statistics on the size, distribution and trends in national populations, fertility, foetal mortality, infant and maternal mortality, general mortality, nuptiality and divorce. Data are shown by urban/rural residence, as available. In addition, the volume provides Technical Notes, a synoptic table, a historical index and a listing of the issues of the Demographic Yearbook published to date. FULL ARTICLE

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Rural Population, Development and the Environment 2011

27 December 2011, New York

UN Population Division’s wall chart on Rural Population, Development and the Environment 2011 presents the latest data available for 15 indicators of rural population, land use, development and environment. It provides estimates at the national, regional and world levels, giving us a better understanding of the relationship between demographic dynamics, natural resources and cultural practices. FULL ARTICLE

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World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012 – Pre-Release

1 December 2011, New York

Global economic growth started to decelerate on a broad front in mid-2011 and this slow growth is expected to continue into 2012 and 2013. The United Nations estimates growth of world gross product (WGP) at 2.8 per cent in 2011, and its baseline forecast projects growth of 2.6 per cent for 2012 and 3.2 per cent for 2013, which remains below the pre-crisis pace of global growth. FULL ARTICLE

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