The numbers boggle the mind. The world today is inhabited by more than 6.3 billion people, and by 2015 the figure will reach roughly 7.3 billion, an increase of a billion in a little more than a decade, according to the United Nations. Although the overall rate of growth has been declining, populations in the developing regions are expected to rise rapidly.

What needs to be done to stabilize population growth and eliminate poverty? The U.N., which designated July 11 as World Population Day, says part of the answer lies in promoting women's health and education. Appropriately, the theme for this year focuses on improving women's reproductive health as a way to reduce poverty.

Japan has its own population problems: the continuing decline in the birthrate and the accelerated rise in the average age of the population. The challenge for this nation is twofold. While reinforcing efforts to address its own problems, it should bolster cooperation with developing nations to help promote their own population programs. To that end, Japan needs to provide more aid, more expertise and more equipment.