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Does the Earth have enough resources to support a rapidly growing human population? Now it is over 7 billion. What is the maximum number of inhabitants, above which the sustainable development of our planet will no longer be possible? The correspondent undertook to find out what the researchers think about this.
Overpopulation. At this word, modern politicians wince; in discussions about the future of planet Earth, he is often referred to as the "elephant in the room."
Often, a growing population is spoken of as the biggest threat to the existence of the Earth. But is it right to consider this problem in isolation from other contemporary global challenges? And is it really so threateningly many people live on our planet now?
- What do giant cities suffer from?
- Seva Novgorodtsev about overpopulation of the Earth
- Obesity is more dangerous than overcrowding
It is clear that the Earth does not increase in size. Its space is limited, and the resources necessary to sustain life are finite. Food, water and energy may simply not be enough for everyone.
It turns out that demographic growth is a real threat to the well-being of our planet? Not at all necessary.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption The earth is not rubber!"The problem is not the number of people living on the planet, but the number of consumers and the scale and nature of consumption," says David Satterthwaite, senior fellow at the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development.
In support of his thesis, he cites the consonant statement of the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that "there are enough [resources] in the world to satisfy the needs of every person, but not universal greed."
The global effect of a multi-billion increase in urban population could be much smaller than we think
Until recently, the number of representatives of the modern human species (Homo sapiens) living on Earth was relatively small. Just 10 thousand years ago, no more than a few million people lived on our planet.
It wasn't until the early 1800s that the human population reached a billion. And two billion - only in the 20s of the twentieth century.
Currently, the world's population is over 7.3 billion people. According to UN forecasts, by 2050 it could reach 9.7 billion, and by 2100 it is expected to exceed 11 billion.
Population has only begun to grow rapidly in the last few decades, so we do not yet have historical examples on which to base our predictions on the possible consequences of this growth in the future.
In other words, if it is true that more than 11 billion people will live on our planet by the end of the century, our current level of knowledge does not allow us to say whether sustainable development is possible with such a population - simply because there has not yet been precedents in history.
However, we can get a better picture of the future if we analyze where the most significant population growth is expected in the coming years.
The problem is not the number of people living on Earth, but the number of consumers and the scale and nature of their consumption of non-renewable resources
David Satterthwaite says that most of the demographic growth in the next two decades will occur in the megacities of those countries where the level of income of the population at the present stage is assessed as low or medium.
At first glance, an increase in the number of inhabitants of such cities, even if by several billion, should not have serious consequences on a global scale. This is due to historically low levels of urban consumption in low- and middle-income countries.
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases are a good indicator of how high a city's consumption can be. “We know about cities in low-income countries that emissions of carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) and its equivalents are less than a tonne per person per year,” says David Satterthwait. “In high-income countries, the values of this indicator fluctuate ranging from 6 to 30 tons".
Residents of more economically prosperous countries pollute the environment to a much greater extent than people living in poor countries.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Copenhagen: high standard of living, but low greenhouse gas emissionsHowever, there are exceptions. Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, a high-income country, while Porto Allegre is in Brazil, an upper-middle income country. Both cities have a high standard of living, but emissions (on a per capita basis) are relatively low in volume.
According to the scientist, if we look at the lifestyle of one single person, the difference between rich and poor categories of the population will be even more significant.
There are many low-income urban dwellers whose consumption is so low that it has little to no effect on greenhouse gas emissions.
When the Earth's population reaches 11 billion, the additional burden on its resources may be relatively small.
However, the world is changing. And it's entirely possible that low-income megacities will see carbon emissions rise soon.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption People living in high-income countries must do their part to keep the Earth sustainable with a growing populationThere is also concern about the desire of people in poor countries to live and consume at a level that is now considered normal for high-income countries (many will say that this would be some kind of restoration of social justice).
But in this case, the growth of the urban population will bring with it a more serious burden on the environment.
Will Steffen, Professor Emeritus at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian State University, says this is in line with a general trend that has emerged over the past century.
According to him, the problem is not population growth, but the growth - even more rapid - of world consumption (which, of course, is unevenly distributed around the world).
If so, then humanity may find itself in an even more predicament.
People living in high-income countries must do their part to keep the Earth sustainable with a growing population.
Only if wealthier communities are willing to reduce their consumption levels and allow their governments to support unpopular measures can the world as a whole reduce the negative human impact on the global climate and more effectively address issues such as resource conservation and recycling.
In a 2015 study, the Journal of Industrial Ecology tried to look at environmental issues from the perspective of a household, where the focus is on consumption.
If we adopt smarter consumer habits, the state of the environment could improve dramatically
The study showed that private consumers account for more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, and in the use of land, water and other raw materials, their share is up to 80%.
Moreover, the researchers concluded that the pressure on the environment differs from region to region and that, per household, it is highest in economically prosperous countries.
Diana Ivanova of the University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, who developed the concept for this study, explains that it changes the traditional view of who should be responsible for industrial emissions associated with the production of consumer goods.
"We are all trying to shift the blame to someone else, to the state or to enterprises," she notes.
In the West, for example, consumers often express the view that China and other countries that produce consumer goods in industrial quantities should also be held responsible for production-related emissions.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Modern society depends on industrial productionBut Diana and her colleagues believe that an equal share of the responsibility lies with the consumers themselves: "If we begin to follow smarter consumer habits, the state of the environment can significantly improve." According to this logic, radical changes are needed in the basic values of developed countries: the emphasis should move from material wealth to a model where the most important thing is personal and social well-being.
But even if favorable changes take place in mass consumer behavior, it is unlikely that our planet will be able to sustain a population of 11 billion people for a long time.
Therefore, Will Steffen proposes to stabilize the population somewhere in the region of nine billion, and then begin to gradually reduce it by reducing the birth rate.
Stabilization of the Earth's population implies both a reduction in resource consumption and the expansion of women's rights.
In fact, there are signs that some stabilization is already underway, even if the population continues to grow statistically.
Population growth has been slowing since the 1960s, and studies of fertility rates by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs show that, worldwide, the birth rate per woman has fallen from 4.7 children in 1970-75 to 2.6 in 2005-10.
However, it will take centuries for any really significant changes to take place in this area, according to Corey Bradshaw of the University of Adelaide in Australia.
The trend towards an increase in the birth rate is so deeply rooted that even a major catastrophe will not be able to radically change the situation, the scientist believes.
According to a study conducted in 2014, Corey concluded that even if the world's population were to be reduced by two billion tomorrow due to increased mortality, or if governments of all countries, like China, passed unpopular laws that limit the number of children, then by 2100 the number of people on our planet, at best, would remain at the current level.
Therefore, it is necessary to look for alternative ways to reduce the birth rate, and look for it without delay.
If some or all of us increase our consumption, then the upper limit for sustainable (sustainable) population of the Earth will decrease
One relatively simple way is to raise the status of women, especially in terms of their educational and employment opportunities, says Will Steffen.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 350 million women in the poorest countries were not going to have their last child, but they had no way to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
If the basic needs of these women in terms of personal development were met, the problem of overpopulation of the Earth due to excessively high birth rates would not be so acute.
Following this logic, the stabilization of the population of our planet implies both a reduction in resource consumption and the expansion of women's rights.
But if a population of 11 billion is unsustainable, how many people - in theory - can our Earth feed?
Corey Bradshaw thinks it's nearly impossible to give a specific number as it will depend on technology in areas like agriculture, energy and transportation, and how many people we're willing to condemn to a life of deprivation and limitation, including and in food.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption Slums in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay)It is a fairly common belief that humanity has already exceeded the permissible limit, given the wasteful lifestyle that many of its representatives lead and which they are unlikely to want to give up.
As arguments in favor of this point of view, such environmental trends as global warming, the reduction of biospecies diversity and pollution of the world's oceans are given.
Social statistics also come to the rescue, according to which currently one billion people in the world are actually starving, and another billion suffer from chronic malnutrition.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the problem of population was associated equally with female fertility and soil fertility.
The most common option is 8 billion, i.e. a little more than the current level. The lowest figure is 2 billion. The highest is 1024 billion.
And since assumptions about the allowable demographic maximum depend on a number of assumptions, it is difficult to say which of the above calculations is closest to reality.
But ultimately the determining factor will be how society organizes its consumption.
If some of us - or all of us - increase our consumption, then the upper limit on the acceptable (in terms of sustainable development) population of the Earth will decrease.
If we find opportunities to consume less, ideally without giving up the benefits of civilization, then our planet will be able to support more people.
The acceptable population limit will also depend on the development of technology, an area in which it is difficult to predict anything.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the problem of population was associated equally with both female fertility and the fertility of agricultural land.
In his 1928 book The Shadow of the World to Come, George Knibbs suggested that if the world's population reaches 7.8 billion, humanity will need to be much more efficient in cultivating and using land.
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption With the invention of chemical fertilizers began a rapid population growthAnd three years later, Carl Bosch received the Nobel Prize for his contribution to the development of chemical fertilizers, the production of which was, presumably, the most important factor in the population boom that occurred in the twentieth century.
In the distant future, scientific and technological progress can significantly raise the upper limit of the permissible population of the Earth.
Ever since people first traveled into space, mankind is no longer content with observing stars from the Earth, but is seriously discussing the possibility of resettlement to other planets.
Many prominent thinkers, including the physicist Stephen Hawking, even state that the colonization of other worlds will be critical to the survival of humans and other species present on Earth.
Although the NASA exoplanet program launched in 2009 discovered a large number of Earth-like planets, they are all too distant from us and little studied. (As part of this program, the US space agency created the Kepler satellite equipped with an ultrasensitive photometer to search for Earth-like planets outside the solar system, the so-called exoplanets.)
Image copyright Thinkstock Image caption The earth is our only home and we need to learn how to live in it in a sustainable waySo moving people to another planet is not yet an option. For the foreseeable future, the Earth will be our only home, and we must learn to live in it in an environmentally friendly way.
This implies, of course, an overall reduction in consumption, in particular a transition to a lifestyle with low CO2 emissions, as well as an improvement in the status of women around the world.
Only by taking some steps in this direction, we will be able to roughly calculate how much the planet Earth can support the people.
- You can read it in English on the website.
Based on the data set out in the UN projections for the population of the world
Around 8000 BC, the world's population was approximately 5 million people. For the 8000-year period up to 1 AD. it has grown to 200 million people (300 million or even 600 million according to some estimates), with a growth rate of 0.05% per year. A huge change in population occurred with the advent of the industrial revolution:
- In 1800, the world population reached one billion.
- The second billion in population was reached in just 130 years in 1930.
- The third billion was reached in less than 30 years in 1959.
- Over the next 15 years, the fourth billion will be reached in 1974.
- In just 13 years, in 1987 - the fifth billion.
During the 20th century alone, the world's population grew from 1.65 billion to 6 billion.
In 1970, the population was half what it is now. Due to declining population growth, it would take more than 200 years to double the population from today's data.
Table with population data by years and dynamics of population growth in the world by years until 2017
| Pop% | World population | Growth in % compared to the previous year | Absolute annual increase number of people | Average age of the population | Population density: number of people per 1 sq. km. | Urbanization (urban population) in % of the total population | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 515 284 153 | 1,11% | 82 620 878 | 29,9 | 58 | 54,7% | 4 110 778 369 |
| 2016 | 7 432 663 275 | 1,13% | 83 191 176 | 29,9 | 57 | 54,3% | 4 034 193 153 |
| 2015 | 7 349 472 099 | 1,18% | 83 949 411 | 30 | 57 | 53,8% | 3 957 285 013 |
| 2010 | 6 929 725 043 | 1,23% | 82 017 839 | 29 | 53 | 51,5% | 3 571 272 167 |
| 2005 | 6 519 635 850 | 1,25% | 78 602 746 | 27 | 50 | 49,1% | 3 199 013 076 |
| 2000 | 6 126 622 121 | 1,33% | 78 299 807 | 26 | 47 | 46,6% | 2 856 131 072 |
| 1995 | 5 735 123 084 | 1,55% | 85 091 077 | 25 | 44 | 44,8% | 2 568 062 984 |
| 1990 | 5 309 667 699 | 1,82% | 91 425 426 | 24 | 41 | 43% | 2 285 030 904 |
| 1985 | 4 852 540 569 | 1,79% | 82 581 621 | 23 | 37 | 41,3% | 2 003 049 795 |
| 1980 | 4 439 632 465 | 1,8% | 75 646 647 | 23 | 34 | 39,4% | 1 749 539 272 |
| 1975 | 4 061 399 228 | 1,98% | 75 782 307 | 22 | 31 | 37,8% | 1 534 721 238 |
| 1970 | 3 682 487 691 | 2,08% | 71 998 514 | 22 | 28 | 36,7% | 1 350 280 789 |
| 1965 | 3 322 495 121 | 1,94% | 60 830 259 | 23 | 21 | There is no data | There is no data |
| 1960 | 3 018 343 828 | 1,82% | 52 005 861 | 23 | 23 | 33,8% | 1 019 494 911 |
| 1955 | 2 758 314 525 | 1,78% | 46 633 043 | 23 | 21 | There is no data | There is no data |
The world population is currently (2017) growing at a rate of about 1.11% per year (up from 1.13% in 2016).
Currently, the average population growth per year is estimated at about 80 million people. The annual growth rate peaked in the late 1960s at 2% or more. The population growth rate peaked at 2.19 percent per year in 1963.
The annual growth rate is currently declining and is projected to continue declining in the coming years. Population growth is projected to be less than 1% per year by 2020 and less than 0.5% per year by 2050. This means that the world population will continue to grow in the 21st century, but at a slower pace than in the recent past.
The world population doubled (100% increase) within 40 years from 1959 (3 billion) to 1999 (6 billion). It is currently predicted that in 39 years the world's population will increase by another 50%, to 9 billion by 2038.
Forecast of the population of the Earth (all countries of the world) and demographic data for the period up to 2050:
| date | Population | Number growth a % for 1 year | Absolute growth for 1 year in the number of people | The average age of the world's population | Population density: number of people per 1 sq. km. | Percentage of urbanization | Total urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 758 156 792 | 1,09% | 81 736 939 | 31 | 60 | 55,9% | 4 338 014 924 |
| 2025 | 8 141 661 007 | 0,97% | 76 700 843 | 32 | 63 | 57,8% | 4 705 773 576 |
| 2030 | 8 500 766 052 | 0,87% | 71 821 009 | 33 | 65 | 59,5% | 5 058 158 460 |
| 2035 | 8 838 907 877 | 0,78% | 67 628 365 | 34 | 68 | 61% | 5 394 234 712 |
| 2040 | 9 157 233 976 | 0,71% | 63 665 220 | 35 | 70 | 62,4% | 5 715 413 029 |
| 2045 | 9 453 891 780 | 0,64% | 59 331 561 | 35 | 73 | 63,8% | 6 030 924 065 |
| 2050 | 9 725 147 994 | 0,57% | 54 251 243 | 36 | 75 | 65,2% | 6 338 611 492 |
The main stages of the growth of the world's population
10 billion (2056)
The United Nations projects a world population of 10 billion by 2056.
8 billion (2023)
The world population is expected to reach 8 billion in 2023 according to the United Nations (and in 2026 according to the US Census Bureau).
7.5 billion (2017)
The current world population is 7.5 billion as of January 2017, according to United Nations estimates.
7 billion (2011)
According to the United Nations, the world's population reached 7 billion on October 31, 2011. The US Census Bureau made a lower estimate - 7 billion was reached on March 12, 2012.
6 billion (1999)
According to the United Nations, on October 12, 1999, the world population was 6 billion. According to the US Census Bureau, this value was reached on July 22, 1999, at approximately 3:49 am GMT.
The population of a country depends on many factors and conditions. Official sources and statistics can quite accurately show the picture of population throughout the globe. For example, the largest population in the world in 2019 was recorded in the People's Republic of China, and the smallest on the Pitcairn Islands - only 49 people.
The largest population in the world is calculated when collecting and analyzing demographic data in detail - in the process of the population census program. Various methods and programs are used during this process. Usually, this is a survey of residents living in the country.
Such international accounting is carried out, as a rule, in the middle of the period. The average indicator of the counted number of inhabitants at the beginning and end of the year under study is taken into account, and in the intervals between censuses, the population is determined by calculation based on the data obtained (average value).
It is important to understand that population is a demographic indicator, it is constantly changing due to births, deaths and migrations.
That is why the absolute momentary population for some time and the average number for the period are used.
Top 10 countries with the largest population
10. Mexico- according to the latest data, the population of Mexico is 133,353,634 people, and its density is 62 people per km², with a country territory of 1,972,550 km². According to statistics, approximately 40% of the population of Mexico lives in the five states of the country, the rest of the people are distributed extremely unevenly throughout it. The official language is Spanish, which is spoken by the vast majority of the population.
9. Russia- a country that ranks first in the world in terms of territory - 17,125,191 km². According to estimates for 2020, the population of Russia is about 146,880,432 people.
Most of the inhabitants (more than 78%) live in the European part of the country, which creates a large gap between the geographical center of the country and the rest of it. The capital of the country is Moscow, it is here that the highest population density in Russia is recorded.
The collapse of the Soviet Union plays a big role for the demography of Russia, after which a considerable number of Russian speakers migrated here.
8. Bangladesh- a state in South Asia, has up to 167,132,403 people. Due to its small territory, the country has a high population density. By 1980, the government had developed a birth control system that helped slow down the growth rate.
The predominant nationality in Bangladesh is ethnic Bengalis.
7. Nigeria- a large state in Africa, which is home to more than 197,914,094 people. The most densely populated northern states of the country. The population is very diverse and is in a state of constant migration changes due to local conflicts and military incursions. The ethnic composition of the country includes more than 250 tribes and peoples.
6.Brazil– its territory has a population of about 209,419,600 people. The country's capital, Brasilia, is one of the most densely populated cities, with an average population density of 22 people per km². Brazil is characterized by a stable annual population growth.
Brazilians have a long life expectancy. 
5. Pakistan- the fifth most populous country in the world with a population of 211,883,964 inhabitants. With a small area of 803,940 km², it has a fairly high density of 258.45 people per km², but is characterized by an average population growth rate.
The vast majority of the inhabitants settled in the valley of the Indus River.
4. Indonesia- a state in Southeast Asia, whose population, according to the latest data, is about 268,111,052 people, which is 3.53% of the world's population.
It is unevenly distributed, since most of the country's inhabitants live on the island of Java. A fairly high population density is recorded here - 1000 people per km². The composition of the country is very diverse, with more than 300 nationalities.
In order to populate the territory evenly, the government is developing special programs.
3. USA- 326,906,488 people on an area of about 9,519,431 km². The urban population significantly predominates - more than 81%, the population density is 34 people per km². One of the most multinational and ethnically diverse countries, because a significant part of the population are migrants. Along with white Americans, other population groups are also numerous: Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans - Indians.
The eastern part of the country is the most populated. The official language is English.
2. India- one of the largest states in South Asia, covers an area of 3,287,263 km². According to the latest data, there are more than 1,351,574,000 inhabitants of India, which is about 17.8% of the total population of the Earth. The population density is one of the highest in the world - 364 people per km², in some areas it is much higher. A large part of the population lives below the poverty line. 
The population is very diverse, India is the leader in the number of nationalities inhabiting the country.
1. The most populated country in the world is China. Population - 1,391,686,000 people (more than 18% of the world's population). The population density is 150.3 people per km² with an area of 9,598,962 km². The predominant population is ethnic Chinese, but 56 peoples are recognized in the country, each with its own characteristics and traditional way of life.
China's demographic policy is aimed at stabilizing population growth, the slogans "One family - one child" are known, but in recent years some restrictions have been lifted, the policy has been relaxed.
Top 20 cities with the largest population
The largest population in the world is undoubtedly formed by China. However, there are also the largest cities in the world, huge metropolitan areas, crowded with people, each with its own history and traditions. Having traveled a long way, they formed their multi-million population and deserved a "minute of glory".
20. Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the latest data, the population of the city was 9,464,000 people, and most of the city's territory is occupied by sparsely populated rural areas. The standard of living in the city is very low, many residents live below the poverty line, which is why there is a high crime rate. 
19. Baghdad- the capital of Iraq and one of the largest cities in the Middle East. It is inhabited by more than 9,500,000 people, the population density is more than 25,700 people per km². Baghdad is recognized as the center of the economy, politics and culture of Iraq.
18. Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The population is more than 9,700,000 people, the density is 23,000 people per km². Dhaka is the center of water tourism, as it is located on the banks of the Buriganga River. The city has many attractions and cultural buildings.
17. Jakarta- the largest city in Indonesia, its capital. It is located on a flat surface on the coast of the island of Java, where a significant part of the population of Indonesia was based. The population of the city is over 10,000,000 people, with a much lower density of 14,000 people per km². The population is growing very fast.
16. Wuhan is one of the most densely populated cities in China. Its population was over 10,200,000 people. Wuhan was formed by the merger of three cities - Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. Now, the city plays a significant role in the economy of Central China, its importance as a transportation hub is noted.
15. Cairo- the capital of Egypt, whose inhabitants are more than 10,200,000 people. The population continues to grow due to the high birth rate and the influx of people from rural areas. Cairo is rich in sights and architectural monuments, tourists have something to see.
14. Shenzhen- a large city located in the south of China, bordering Hong Kong. "The city of parks and skyscrapers", as it is called because of the abundance of high-rise buildings. One of the fastest growing cities in China, economically attractive. According to the latest data, the population of this city was about 10,300,000 people. 
13. seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea. A huge metropolis with a population of 10,400,000 people. It is home to about 20% of the population of the entire country. The city is developing rapidly, preserving its traditions. It is attractive for any tourists, everyone will find something of their own here.
12. Delhi- the capital of India, which has become home to more than 11,000,000 people. The city played a significant role in India, although it was not always its capital. Delhi is rich in sights and is distinguished by its multinationality, and hence the diversity of cultures.
11. Sao Paulo- a large Brazilian city, which is the capital of the state of the same name. The population of the metropolis is more than 12,000,000 people. One of the most densely populated places in Latin America.
10. Mumbai- the largest and most multinational Indian city. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. A fairly high population density has been noticed here - 20,600 people per km², with a population of 12,470,000 people. Mumbai is an important cultural and economic center of the country.
9. Moscow is the capital and largest metropolis of Russia. Moscow is inhabited by more than 12,500,000 people, and the density of this population is 4,800 people per km². Here are the famous monuments of architecture, parks and sights, which makes the city a tourist center of Russia. 
8. Karachi is a major port city in Pakistan. The population is 13,205,000 people, its density is 3740 people per km². Karachi is the administrative center of the province of Sindh and at the same time it remains the main economic and industrial center of all of Pakistan.
7. Tokyo- the prosperous capital of Japan, whose population exceeds 13,370,000 people. It is the administrative, political, economic and industrial center of the country. A very popular city among tourists.
6. Guangzhou- one of the most ancient cities in China, is well known as a cultural and historical heritage of China. Its population is over 13,400,000 people. Guangzhou is the multidisciplinary center of all of South China.
5. Istanbul is a large city in Turkey. The population reaches 13,850,000 people. It is here that the geographical border between the two continents passes. The metropolis is the main industrial, commercial and cultural center of the country.
4. Tianjin- a port metropolis in the North of China. The population is 14,420,000 people, with a low density of 1,210 people per km².
3. Beijing is the capital of China. The political and cultural center of the country with a population of over 21,140,000 people, a density of 1,290 people per km². The largest railway and road junction of the country. Beijing combines the culture of modern and traditional China, this is reflected in everything.
2. Shanghai- the second in the top three Chinese city. The financial center of the country, which has the world's largest seaport. It is inhabited by over 24,000,000 people.
Chongqing is the city with the largest population in the world. 1. chongqing- the most populated city in the world with a population exceeding 30,160,000 people. Chongqing is located on the mountains and hills, unlike other large cities. It is considered the largest city in central China, despite the fact that its vast part is occupied by rural areas.
Forecasts
The largest population in the world is not a permanent calling. History knows the moments when the number of inhabitants in the country was subjected to a significant reduction or vice versa, an unprecedented increase.
However, the last two centuries have seen an undeniable dynamic of population growth around the world. In the last century alone, there have been 4 billion more people worldwide. This explains the rapid development of technology at all levels, including medicine. The result is a reduction in mortality and an increase in living standards.
Now, the population continues to grow, and with it the life expectancy and the average age of the inhabitants of the planet. This pace will continue in the near future. Growth will be most dynamic in the least developed countries, where the total population could triple.
Africa is the fastest growing region in the world in terms of population, with the largest growth expected here and in parts of Asia. In Europe, the situation is different: women's ability to bear children has become lower. There is already a decline in the population and its natural aging, which can lead to a number of some problems.
A number of demographic researchers suggest that the stabilization of the population, with high and ongoing growth rates, will still occur, if not by human efforts, then under the influence of nature.
The population of any country can both fall and grow. According to UN forecasts, China's population will not change by 2030, but in the next 20 years it will decrease slightly. At the same time, India's growth rate will remain high and, by 2050, its population will be about 1.7 billion people. Perhaps India will become the new record-breaking country with the largest population in the world.
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This list of islands, sorted by area, includes all islands larger than 5,000 km². For comparison, the areas of the continents are also given. Contents 1 Continents 2 Islands with an area of more than 250,000 km² ... Wikipedia
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- Fundamentals of social hygiene and healthcare organization, Maistrakh K., Lavrova I.. The textbook is the main textbook for students of medical schools. The main problems and tasks of social hygiene are outlined in a concise and accessible form, the methodology is highlighted ...
Every day the number of inhabitants on our planet is growing. This is due to many factors and varies from one to another. Therefore, it is very difficult to keep track of how many people live in the world. However, approximate data still exist.
The population of the planet
Today, about 7 billion people live in the world, it is difficult to give exact data, since someone is constantly born and someone dies. For the most part, the population of a country depends on several factors, including the level of development of the state and, in particular, medicine, the standard of living and even the temperament of a person.
Many centuries ago, there were much fewer people on Earth, but over time this figure has grown rapidly. Despite world epidemics, diseases and the terrible continue to multiply and populate every piece of the planet. Most of the population lives in the most developed metropolitan areas, where the standard of living is higher than in small cities, the same applies to countries. About half of the people live in the most populated countries.
China
The first place rightfully occupied by this country almost reaches the figure of 1.5 billion, that is, almost 1/5 of how many people there are in the world today. Despite the fact that the state authorities are trying in every possible way to regulate the birth rate, the number of inhabitants of the country is still growing rapidly, increasing by about 8.7 million annually.
India
If we talk about how many people are now in the world, then the second place among the most populated states belongs to India. About 1.17 billion people live here, which is about 17% of the total world population. The annual population growth in this country is about 18 million people, that is, the Indians have every chance to bypass the Chinese in terms of the number.
USA
With a constant influx of immigrants from less developed neighboring countries, the United States is one of the most populous countries in the world. About 307 million people of various nationalities live in this state.
Indonesia
The fourth position in the list is occupied by a state located in Southeast Asia. About 240 million people live on its territory, which is about 3.5% of the total
Brazil
The first five are concluded by this sunny country, which is also the most populated state in South America. Exactly 3% of how many people in the world live in Brazil. The number of inhabitants of this state reaches 198 million inhabitants.
Pakistan
Sixth place belongs to Pakistan, which, according to the latest data, has about 176 million inhabitants, which make up 2.6% of the total population of our planet.
Bangladesh
The country, located in South Asia, is home to 156 million people. That is, the number of Bangladeshis is about 2.3% of the inhabitants of the planet Earth.
Nigeria
This African country is also in the top ten in terms of the number of inhabitants. The number of people living here reaches 149 million, that is, 2.2% of all people on the planet. In addition, Nigeria occupies a leading position in terms of fertility, which may soon help it overtake Bangladesh.
Russia
A significant part of how many people live on the planet falls on Russia. Despite the fact that Russia in terms of population, it is only in 9th place. This is due to the fact that here the death rate significantly exceeds the birth rate. The territory of this state accounts for about 2% of the population of the entire Earth, that is, about 140 million people.
Japan
The Land of the Rising Sun closes the top ten, which, however, is the most developed of all those presented above. Approximately 127 million people live here, that is, 1.9% of the earth's population. What is important, since the country is in a somewhat mothballed state, almost all of its population are native Japanese.
Conclusion
The World Health Organization regulates the population of states and controls how many people there are in the world. In order to somehow reduce the birth rate in very poor African countries, missionaries are regularly sent there to give lectures to the local population and provide them with the necessary contraception. Other states are taking other measures. For example, in China, the authorities are fighting too high a birth rate by imposing taxes on families who want to have more than one child. But such measures are urgently needed, because the resources of our planet are limited, and they are greatly influenced by how many people there are in the world. Therefore, it is simply necessary to avoid in order to prevent an environmental catastrophe and a serious depletion of all the natural resources of our planet Earth in the future.