By 2030, the middle-class population in Asia-Pacific is expected to increase from **** billion people in 2015 to **** billion people. In comparison, the middle-class population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase from *** million in 2015 to *** million in 2030. Worldwide wealth While the middle-class has been on the rise, there is still a huge disparity in global wealth and income. The United States had the highest number of individuals belonging to the top one percent of wealth holders, and the value of global wealth is only expected to increase over the coming years. Around ** percent of the world’s population had assets valued at less than 10,000 U.S. dollars, while less than *** percent had assets of more than one million U.S. dollars. Asia had the highest percentage of investable assets in the world in 2018, whereas Oceania had the highest percentage of non-investable assets. The middle-class The middle class is the group of people whose income falls in the middle of the scale. China accounted for over half of the global population for middle-class wealth in 2017. In the United States, the debate about the middle class “disappearing” has been a popular topic due to the increase in wealth among the top billionaires in the nation. Due to this, there have been arguments to increase taxes on the rich to help support the middle class.

According to data published by the Pew Research Center, India is estimated to have had a shrinking middle class as a result of the global recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that the number of people in the middle income tier in India decreased from ** million to ** million following the COVID-19 global recession.

The global sleeve label shrinking machine market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing demand across diverse sectors like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The market size in 2025 is estimated at $2.5 billion, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is fueled by several factors, including the rising preference for attractive and tamper-evident packaging, automation in packaging lines to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs, and the increasing adoption of sustainable packaging solutions. The heat shrinking and tray shrinking segments dominate the market based on machine type, while the food and beverage industry holds the largest application share due to high consumption and stringent regulatory compliance requirements. Key players like Harikrushna Machines Pvt. Ltd., Packleader, and Accraply are continuously innovating to meet the growing demands for advanced features such as high-speed operation, improved precision, and enhanced integration with existing packaging systems. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established players and emerging companies, creating a dynamic environment with ongoing product development and strategic partnerships. Furthermore, regional variations in market growth are expected, with North America and Europe maintaining strong positions due to established manufacturing and packaging industries. However, Asia-Pacific is poised for significant expansion, driven by rapid industrialization, growing consumer demand, and a burgeoning middle class. Despite the positive outlook, certain restraints may hinder market growth, including high initial investment costs for advanced machines, technological complexities in integrating these machines into existing production lines, and concerns about environmental sustainability linked to the use of specific shrinking films. Nevertheless, the overall market trajectory indicates substantial growth potential over the forecast period. The industry's focus on technological advancements, coupled with increasing demand for efficient and attractive packaging solutions, will continue to drive market expansion in the coming years.

The global loose pre-shrinkage dryer market, valued at $859 million in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, driven by the increasing demand for high-quality textiles and furniture in various industries. The market's Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2025 to 2033 signifies a consistent upward trajectory, fueled by several key factors. Growth in the garment and furniture manufacturing sectors, particularly in developing economies with expanding middle classes, is a significant driver. Furthermore, the rising preference for pre-shrunk fabrics, which minimize post-production shrinkage and improve garment fit and durability, is boosting demand. Technological advancements in dryer design, such as improved energy efficiency and automation features, are also contributing to market expansion. The market is segmented by application (garment factories, furniture factories, and others) and dryer type (forward rotation and forward and reverse rotation), offering various options tailored to specific industry needs. While challenges such as initial investment costs and the need for skilled operators exist, the long-term benefits of pre-shrinking in terms of reduced waste and enhanced product quality are likely to outweigh these concerns. The market's regional distribution reflects the concentration of manufacturing hubs. Asia Pacific, particularly China and India, is expected to dominate the market due to the region’s significant textile and furniture manufacturing industries. North America and Europe will also show substantial growth, driven by their established manufacturing sectors and focus on high-quality goods. The competitive landscape includes both established international players like Santex Rimar, Brückner Trockentechnik, and Richpeace, and regional manufacturers. Future growth will be influenced by factors such as technological innovation, the adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices, and changes in consumer preferences for different fabrics and styles. The market presents significant opportunities for both established and emerging players who can effectively leverage these trends. This comprehensive report provides a detailed analysis of the global loose pre-shrinkage dryer market, encompassing the historical period (2019-2024), base year (2025), and forecast period (2025-2033). The market is projected to reach multi-million unit sales by 2033, driven by significant industry developments and evolving end-user demands. This report is a crucial resource for manufacturers, suppliers, investors, and industry stakeholders seeking to understand market trends, competitive dynamics, and future growth opportunities in the pre-shrinkage textile processing sector.

Generalised linear mixed-effects models (only 10 top-ranked models according to wBICc shown) of the highest-ranked variable from each theme (1. availability of family planning, 2. quality of family planning, 3. education, 4. religion, 5. socio-economics) in relation to variation in fertility among 46 low- and middle-income countries.

BackgroundLow levels of diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, pertussis (DPT3) immunization services utilization and high deaths among under five children are concentrated in economically and socially disadvantaged groups, especially in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess levels and trends in DPT3 immunization services utilization in Ethiopia and identify inequalities.MethodsThis study used data from 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2019 Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys (EDHSs). The 2019 updated version of the world health organization (WHO’s) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software was used to analyze the data. Six measure of inequality was calculated: ratio (R), differences (D), relative index of inequality (RII), slope index of inequality (SII), population attributable fraction (PAF) and population attributable risk (PAR). The findings were disaggregated by the five equity stratifiers: economic status, education, place of residence, regions and sex of the child.ResultsThis study showed an erratic distribution of DPT3 immunization services utilization in Ethiopia. The trends in national DPT3 immunization coverage increased from 21% in (2000) to 62% in (2019) (by 41 percentage points). Regarding economic inequality, DPT3 immunization coverages for the poorest quintiles over 20 years were 15.3% (2000), and 47.7% (2019), for the richest quintiles coverage were 43.1 (2000), and 83.4% (2019). However, the service utilization among the poorest groups were increased three fold compared to the richest groups. Regarding educational status, inequality (RII) show decreasing pattern from 7.2% (2000) to 1.5% in(2019). Concerning DPT3 immunization inequality related to sex, (PAR) show that, sex related inequality is zero in 2000, 2005 and in 2019. However, based on the subnational region level, significance difference (PAR) was found in all surveys: 59.7 (2000), 51.1 (2005), 52.2 (2011), 42.5 (2016) and 30.7 (2019). The interesting point of this finding was that, the value of absolute inequality measures (PAR) and (PAF), are shown a decreasing trends from 2000 to 2019, and the gap among the better of regions and poor regions becoming narrowed over the last 20 years. Concerning individual and community level factors, household wealth index, education of the mother, age of respondent, antenatal care, and place of delivery show statically significant with outcome variable. Keeping the other variables constant the odds of an average child in Amhara Region getting DPT3 immunization was 54% less than for a child who lived in Addis Ababa (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.34 – 0.63). Respondents from households with the richest and richer wealth status had 1.21, and 1.26 times higher odds of DPT3 immunization services utilization compared to their counterpart (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04 -1.41) and (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.13 – 1.40) respectively.ConclusionWe conclude that DPT3 immunization coverage shows a growing trend over 20 years in Ethiopia. But inequalities in utilization of DPT3 immunization services among five equality stratifies studied persisted. Reasons for this could be complex and multifactorial and depending on economic, social, maternal education, place of residence, and healthcare context. Therefore, policy has to be structured and be implemented in a ways that address context specific barriers to achieving equality among population sub-groups and regions.

General least-squares models of the highest-ranked variable from each theme (i. family-planning availability, ii. family-planning quality, iii. education, iv. religion, v. mortality, vi. socio-economics) in relation to variation in fertility among 64 low- and middle-income countries.

The typical American picture of a family with 2.5 kids might not be as relevant as it once was: In 2023, there was an average of 1.94 children under 18 per family in the United States. This is a decrease from 2.33 children under 18 per family in 1960.

Familial structure in the United States

If there’s one thing the United States is known for, it’s diversity. Whether this is diversity in ethnicity, culture, or family structure, there is something for everyone in the U.S. Two-parent households in the U.S. are declining, and the number of families with no children are increasing. The number of families with children has stayed more or less constant since 2000.

Adoptions in the U.S.

Families in the U.S. don’t necessarily consist of parents and their own biological children. In 2021, around 35,940 children were adopted by married couples, and 13,307 children were adopted by single women.