ABSTRACT
In 2015, the Latin American population reached 617 million. Within the region, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are the most populous countries. During the twentieth century, the population of Latin America grew at a rapid rate. In general terms, population growth has been a function of “modernization.” Despite the general trend of population growth in the region, the rate of that growth is slowing due to various factors. Latin American governments—in conjunction with traditional allies in Europe, the United States, and the United Nations—have worked to promote awareness of “family planning.” There have been significant instances of severe population declines in Latin American history during the twentieth century: War, famine and disease, and forced migration have all had deleterious effects on populations. The conflicts of the 1980s in Central America and, more recently, in Colombia, have negatively affected overall population growth rates in those countries.
