Four papers in this issue focus on population and urban growth in: (1) sub-Saharan Africa; (2) Latin America; (3) the Soviet Union; and (4) Japan and China. While each region has unique population features, similarities exist based on northern or southern hemisphere geographic locations and on a communist or non-communist political orientation. Mallafe Dame reports on sub-Saharan Africa's high fertility rates, concern for food production, and 800 ethnic groups that speak 1500 languages. In "Population Growth and Urbanization in Latin America" Veronica Kann states that unchecked growth in cities has led to economic and ecological stresses involving inadequate employment, drinking water, and housing. Roberta Gumport describes how Chinese and Japanese cities' development differed from the manner in which European cities grew and recent efforts to control and overcome urban problems. Elizabeth Talbot in "Demographics and Urbanization: The Soviet Union," compares population trends in different regions of the USSR and the relationship of industrial development to urban population growth. References are provided. (JHP)