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| World population, 1750-2015 and projections until 2100 |
AS
FAR BACK as 2013, the United Nations had projected that the world population
was aiming at 9.6 billion people by 2050.
The
Agency also suggested that the world would be 10.9 billion by 2100 upping from
7.2 billion people alive then, raising median estimates for population growth
in 2050 and 2100.
As
it was reported, the agency's prior best guess had humanity growth figured at
9.3 billion in 2050 and 10.1 billion in 2100.
The
scary aspect was that these projections were reflecting adjustments to how
high-fertility countries are behaving in less-developed nations with
lower-income nations, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Much
of the uncertainty, the UN report says, has to do with births and whether
citizens of lower-income nations will start to change their ways and have fewer
children if and when the standard of living in those countries improves.
A
picture of world population in the very long-run, experts suggest, fits the
pattern of exponential growth.
Explaining
what that means, they noted that when a population grows exponentially, it
means the population increase is proportional to the size of the population.
Looking
at key changes in population growth, a study opined that it was salient to
observe how the world population changes over time saying it was useful to
focus on the rate of change, rather than just levels.
To
buttress the above, an annual population growth rate was projected and
superimposed on the total world population for the period 1750-2010 in addition
to projections up to 2100.
It
was said that was the period in history when population growth changed most
drastically.
Dating back:
·
Before
1800 the world population growth rate was always well below 1percent
·
In
the course of the first fifty years of the 20th century annual growth increase
to up to 2.1percent
·
Highest
annual growth rate in history was recorded in 1962.
·
This
means that while the world population quadrupled in the 20th century it may not
double in the 21st century.
However,
here's the big picture.
Watchers of population
matters noted that:
·
108
billion people have lived on our planet
·
Meaning
about 6.5percent of all people ever born are still alive
·
Visualization
plots estimates of the world population from 10,000 BCE
·
It
can be appreciated before 1,000 CE that population slowly can steadily increase
from about 2.4 million in 10,000 BCE to 295 million in 1,000 CE
·
By
1850, the world population had exceeded 1 billion people
On
the final analysis, the UN -Medium Variant- projections show population
increase until the end of the 21st century. This is where it concerns us, this
is talking about our present times. That’s the point of relevance.
John
Wilmoth, Director, Population Division, DESA, explained that these revisions
reflect that developing regions are home to about 5.9 billion but expected to
soar to 8.2 billion in 2050.
This
means, population in developed nations will stay at about 1.3 billion incessantly.
Joke
Kujenya (Ms.)
Editor,
Population Journalism
Investigative
Journalist, Social Media Enthusiast, Mentor, Trainer & Blogger
Media
Mentors News AgencyPower Reporter of The Year, 2013
Staff of The Month, August 2013, The Nation
<journalistjoke@gmail.com>
