This monograph analizes the relationship of socioeconomic development to trends in population growth, composition, and distribution. It was prepared for the World Population Conference, organized by the United Nations and held in Bucharest, Rumania, in August 1974.

Arranged by broad topic, the report links demographic, social, and economic topics. An introductory chapter on population growth from 1790 to 1970 leads to a discussion of population components—differential fertility, differential mortality, and international migration. Aspects of population composition discussed include religion and literacy, as well as topics generally covered in censuses. These topics range from educational attainment and enrollment, and national origin to the demographic characteristics of age, sex, marital status, families, households, and living arrangements.

Various social and economic characteristics are subsequently presented for the labor force, including occupation, industry, and income, which are shown in demographic perspective with some emphasis on working women. Labor force information, however, is only one topic treated in a multifaceted chapter on projections to 1990. Other topics include the estimated number of dependents per worker, as well as the Nation's overall social prospects in terms of number of inhabitants; their regional distribution; age and sex; number of households; and school enrollment and attainment.

A summary chapter emphasizes the correlations and implications of economic and demographic trends examined in the text. A bibliography lists sources of materials used in compiling the monograph.