The world's population is growing at a pace of some 76 million people per year (UNFPA), and problems are growing with it. The ever-increasing demand on the earth's finite natural resources makes it difficult for many to live even at subsistence levels. In the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) the population is expected to triple by 2050. The world's population is also changing as a result of ageing, high mortality rates from HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases, refugee movements and migration. According to UN-Habitat, the United Nations Programme for Human Settlements, one-third of the globe's urban dwellers live in slums or are homeless. Women and minority groups such as indigenous peoples, among others, face marginalisation and discrimination. Family planning and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health have never been more important in rendering local, regional and national population strategies effective.