The United Nations Population Division recently released two new publications: Levels and Trends of International Migration to Selected Countries in Asia and Partnerships and Reproductive Behaviour in Low-Fertility Countries.

The first report studies primarily the changes in population migration that have occurred in Asia since 1970. Using available statistics and data, it analyses the growing scale and complexity of international labour migration, with regards to the development of strong economies in Eastern, South-Eastern and Western Asia. The report also looks at the levels and trends of refugee flows in the region, highlighting the issues and challenges of migratory management that countries in Asia have to tackle.

The second publication (preliminary report) examines the momentous changes in marriage and childbearing patterns that took place during the last decade of the twentieth century, focusing on the more developed countries. It highlights the relationship between marital patterns and childbearing patterns. While trends vary from country to country, they are nevertheless relatively similar within regions, which thus emerge as contrasting clusters.

World Population 2002 prepared by the Population Division has also very recently been released.

Note: To obtain copies of these publications, contact the Population Division, DESA, United Nations Secretariat, New York, NY 10017, USA, or visit www.unpopulation.org