In 1968, Stanford University professor Paul and his wife Anne Ehrlich authored a popular bestselling book, “The Population Bomb” that described how our planet was going to implode unless we took some drastic changes. Back then the population was 3.8 billion people and today is 7.8 billion. It has doubled in 50 years, whereas the last time it doubled in 60 years. It is expected our worldwide population will still increase from 7.8 billion to 11.2 billion people by 2100 based on lower birth statistics.
Bob Larson
Why is this increasing population growth happening? Mainly from technology since the 1950s in curing diseases, increasing birth survivals, growing more food, and controlling the earth’s environment. However, non-technology factors of increasing deaths include war, environmental changes such as earthquakes, tsunamis, starvation, disease, and other tragedies! United Nations predicts our longevity rate has reversed slightly to the mid 70s, but will increase to 97 years by 2100.
Ehrlich predicted lots of famine that never happened, but still over 300 million people died since then from starvation and disease per United Nations estimated statistics. It appears the population growth is slowing down, thus it’s estimated to peak at 9.2 billion by 2075. Even though Ehrlich’s prediction was ahead of its time, there is expected to be zero population growth as many developed countries will see a negative population growth such as many European countries and Russia. However, India, China, and the United States populations will still be increasing, but at a slower rate.
Thanks to technology, we seem to be surviving very well! But we may have to take some bold steps in changing our lifestyles to live comfortably in the developed countries. Plus, by 2075, we will have to work longer, probably to 80 years to enjoy our retirement into our 90s.
~ Bob Larson is a technologist and Marketing Director for 50 Plus.