The table illustrates the population growth, average births per woman, and life expectancy at birth of three different countries with high, middle, and low incomes in 2002 and 2004.
Overall, in all countries, population growth and life expectancy experienced an upward trend, while in middle- and low-income countries the average births per woman saw a slight decrease by the end of the period.
More precisely, the number of people living in high-income countries increased by 0.8% and 0.7% in 2002 and 2004, respectively. As for middle-income countries, in both years it surged by 0.9%. The population of low-income countries experienced the largest change among all countries. The figure accounted for a 2.0% increase in 2002, but in 2004 it constituted a smaller change at 1.8%.
Regarding average births per woman, low-income countries headed the list with 3.8 in 2002 and 3.7 in 2004. Middle-income countries came next with 2.2 in the first year and 2.1 in the final year. High-income countries represented the same numbers for both years at 1.7.
Now moving to life expectancy at birth, high-income countries ranked highest with 78.0 and 78.7 in 2002 and 2004, respectively. Countries with middle income accounted for 69.1 in the beginning, and then rose slightly to 70.0 by the end. Low-income countries demonstrated smaller numbers. The figure was 58.1 in the initial year, and then rose to 58.8.