A lot of people don’t think about it much, but the world’s population has been steadily increasing since the beginning of human existence, and there’s no reason to think that trend will end any time soon.
Some experts have predicted that we could reach 15 billion people on Earth by the year 2100, but not everyone agrees with that figure. Population decrease as many prefer to call it, maybe happen sooner than we think, and here are some reasons why population decrease in the future isn’t just possible; it may already be happening right now.
What do you think about the world running out of people?
This is a topic that has been hotly debated by demographers and population experts for decades. Some experts say it’s just not possible – we can never run out of people. The world has more than 7 billion people in it now, and is still growing rapidly! There are also predictions that the world population will grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050. But what happens if we stop growing? What if there aren’t as many births, or not as many children per woman, or even a net negative total number of babies born (or conceived) each year in every country on Earth? Would it really be possible for the world population to fall into decline one day soon? In a word: yes. And that may be much closer than you think…
So what will happen if we do run out of people to procreate, or stop having babies altogether? Some experts point to Japan and some European countries where fertility rates are below 1.5 births per woman as examples that we’re headed in that direction. But many others disagree, pointing out that birth rates in those countries have shown signs of rebounding lately – but only a little bit! We can’t just ignore them because they may be wrong – they may not be wrong. And it would cost us dearly to ignore them…
There are so many arguments for and against it, but what is likely to happen when we run out of people or fall into decline – nobody knows for sure. But that’s what makes it so fascinating! You could find out if you want by taking a stab at it yourself. Have your say in our poll question below. You can also leave your comments about why we might run out of people – and how long do you think it will take for us to do so? We’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to share your opinions with friends, family and colleagues…you never know who might have an interesting perspective on things! Let’s talk about The World Running Out Of People today!
The Truth Behind the Statistics
The world population is currently around 7.3 billion people or approximately 300 million more than what it was in 1960. The Earth’s population has been increasing by roughly 83 million people per year since 2011, and according to projections from data collected in 2015, that number is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Some are worried that all those extra people will lead to a shortage of resources for future generations—but experts disagree on whether such a crisis is really coming. To find out if it’s time for you and your family to start preparing for life on Mars, here are some facts about population decrease trends in Europe and around the world
In 2015, demographers at UCLA published a paper that suggested Europe’s population was nearing the end of its growth phase. But their study only analyzed demographic shifts in Western Europe, not Eastern European countries like Poland. Between 2005 and 2015, Poland’s population increased by 4 per cent while Germany’s dropped by 4.5 per cent and Italy’s shrank by 5.5 per cent. So even though low birth rates mean fewer babies are being born throughout Europe, there is still a stark divide between East and West when it comes to overall population growth rates.
Trends suggest that population decrease will continue in Eastern Europe—not just because birth rates are declining, but also because people are living longer. In 2018, 13 per cent of Poland’s population was over 65 years old while in Germany that figure was 16 per cent. Life expectancy is increasing across Europe, which means governments have to do more to take care of a growing elderly population and fewer working-age people who can support them financially. More importantly, if Eastern European countries like Poland continue to have low birth rates and high life expectancies at similar rates as their Western neighbours, then demographers will need to reassess how low birth rates are affecting European populations as a whole.
How Can We Prevent a Population Decrease
So, how can we prevent a population decrease in such an event from occurring? If people are scared and stop having kids, there’s not much that can be done. The best way to prepare for a population decrease is to avoid it altogether. We must strive for peace on Earth and sustainability. Ideally, we should aim to have no less than three children per woman globally—about 2 billion births total per year or a little over 7 billion people by 2050 (total world population). In doing so, we may ensure that our species remains in place for at least another century or two. Because if these 13 countries run out of people… imagine what happens next.
Imagine if all those people who are a part of a shrinking country had to move elsewhere. The ripple effect could be dramatic, potentially causing worldwide panic and an overall decrease in birth rates. We need everyone we can get to maintain our current population levels—if not, then what happens next is anyone’s guess. Here’s hoping that world governments take note and plan for continued population growth before it’s too late. Because if these 13 countries run out of people… imagine what happens next.
Is there a risk that our current population could eventually go into decline? Sure. But it’s important to remember that predicting population numbers is about as accurate as weather forecasts, which are notoriously bad and often wrong. However, if certain trends continue, we might reach an inflexion point where populations start decreasing instead of increasing—but that’s something we can always deal with when it happens. For now, let’s just hope that everyone stays alive until then… Because if these 13 countries run out of people… imagine what happens next.
What Would Happen if Our Population Disappeared Tomorrow
The world is heading for a demographic event that has only happened once before in history—and it’s going to transform everything we know about business. China’s population growth has already slowed dramatically and is on track to shrink by another 30 million people over the next decade. By 2050, that nation will have just 1.5 children per woman, meaning its population will start declining rapidly within 15 years. The same thing is happening right now in Japan: In 2010, its fertility rate was 1.21; by 2025, experts expect it to drop as low as .87.
And that’s not all. Birth rates are falling quickly in almost every country on earth: Women average just 2.45 children in Brazil, 1.79 in Iran, 1.59 in Greece and only 1.41 in Italy and Spain—well below what it takes to sustain a population over time. In parts of Europe and North America, women have an average of only one child per lifetime; by 2050, experts predict they will have fewer than two babies on average. The global birthrate is already below the replacement level (2.1). We’re going to run out of people—and we’re doing it a lot faster than anyone expected…
Negative Population Growth
Our planet is home to nearly 7 billion people. By 2050, that number is expected to increase by 40 per cent. With so many mouths to feed and hands needed to build, most scientists are predicting that overpopulation will cause an imminent collapse in global resources—and there’s not much we can do about it. Even more worrisome: in just 100 years, we’ll have exhausted our planet’s ability to support human life entirely. No matter how you look at it, humans are running out of people at a rapid rate and we need to come up with ways to combat overpopulation now before it’s too late.
Unfortunately, when it comes to overpopulation, all signs point to a bleak future. And by the future, we’re talking about it in a matter of decades, not centuries. We have already begun to run out of people; even though there are more humans on Earth than ever before, growth has actually slowed down in recent years. If our population continues to rise at its current rate, we’ll likely begin to see an extinction-level event within just 100 years! The good news is that there are plenty of initiatives being taken around the world in hopes of reversing current trends and supporting sustainable practices. Let’s take a look at some examples.
Reducing Emigration from Countries with Negative Population Growth
One would think that in countries with negative population growth (where birth rates are lower than death rates), emigration to other countries would be encouraged. However, that’s not what is happening—at least not yet. Countries such as Russia and Japan have started cracking down on immigration, but others like Hong Kong have recently loosened visa restrictions. Experts believe we are unlikely to see widespread changes in immigration patterns anytime soon, but it’s hard to say for sure. What do you think about how different countries treat immigration? Would you ever move away from your home country if possible? Why or why not? To get a little perspective on emigration, check out The Guardian’s recent coverage on Russians who’ve moved abroad to escape their country’s economic problems.
As you can see, people are constantly moving around. They move for work, to study, to relocate or just because they want a change in scenery. For many people, it’s hard to picture living anywhere else because they’ve never known anything different. However, there is one group that has a lot less choice in where they live—people whose birthplaces simply don’t have enough room or resources for them anymore. Currently, over 50 countries are experiencing negative population growth and while they may not necessarily be running out of people yet, their problems are sure to grow more severe if nothing changes. We take a look at three countries that need migration now more than ever…
