By 2050, India should be the world’s most populated country, the UK’s population should grow from 68.8 million today to 76.9 million, but the population of Europe should actually shrink, so says the latest data from the Population Reference Bureau published this morning. By 2050, Africa should account for 21 per cent of the world’s population, from just 9 per cent in 1950.
“Nearly all of world population growth is now concentrated in the world’s poorer countries,” said Bill Butz, PRB’s president. “Even the small amount of overall growth in the wealthier nations will largely result from immigration.”
In all, there are 6.7 billion of us around today. The report predicts that within four years the world’s population will pass the 7 billion mark, and by 2050 the global population will be 9.3 billion – or so it predicts.
In 2008, 1.2 billion people live in regions classified as more developed by the United Nations; 5.5 billion people reside in less developed regions. The Population Reference Bureau says: “Between now and mid-century, these diverging growth patterns will boost the population share living in today’s less developed countries from 82 percent to 86 percent.”
China is number one today – with a population of 1.324 billion. India is number two with 1.149 billion. Next in the chart is the US with a mere 304 million.
| Population by country – ten largest in 2008 and projected for 2050.Source Population Reference Bureau | |||
|
2008 |
2050 |
||
| China | 1,3247 | India | 1,7522 |
| India | 1,149 | China | 1,437 |
| US | 304 | US | 438 |
| Indonesia | 329 | Indonesia | 343 |
| Brazil | 195 | Pakistan | 295 |
| Pakistan | 178 | Nigeria | 282 |
| Nigeria | 148 | Brazil | 259.8 |
| Bangladesh | 147 | Bangladesh | 215 |
| Russia | 141 | Congo. Dem. R | 189 |
| Japan | 127 | Philippines | 150 |
|
Population Europe 2008 and projected for 2050 Source Population Reference Bureau |
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| 2008 | 2050 | |
| Europe | 726 | 685 |
| UK | 68.8 | 76.9 |
| Germany | 79.6 | 71.4 |
| France | 66.1 | 70 |
| Italy | 62 | 61.7 |
As for fertility rates. Across the world, the average woman now has 2.6 children in her lifetime, but in sub-Saharan Africa the rate is 5.4 children per woman; in developed countries, women average 1.6 children. The US, however, is bucking the trend, with an average of 2.1 children per woman.
In developed countries, maternal mortality related to pregnancy or childbirth is now just 9 per thousand; in Sub Sahara Africa it is 900.
Other interesting facts from the report. This year, one-half of the world’s population lives in urban areas.
It has been estimated that in 2002, 5.8 per cent of all the people ever born were alive at that moment.
Michael,
The biggest threat to mankind, the environment and our own standard of living is that taboo subject which is “population” !
How can any country have a credible environmental policy without taking into account population growth.
Also, perhaps the real long term reason that property is so expensive is actually more to do with increasing numbers of competing humans than much else.
You comment so eloquently on other matters did you not feel that such a crucial issue as this warranted some column inches?
Ta, Kevin