How many people are there in the world?
| How Many People are in the World |
A few days ago, I took my son and one of his friends over to a National Park for a hike. The weather was good, the humidity was low, and we had enough cover to ensure that we didn't get burnt by the sun. It was a great experience, walking, going over a few rocks, walking by the river's edge. A remember a few Decades before when I was with a group of friends doing the same thing. One thing about the trip this time which caught my eye was the number of people who were also using the Trail with their kids, dogs, and other associated family members. You heard them chatting away in various languages, usually with the younger kids in front and grandparents the back, all of them working together to walk the trail.
One day, when my son has kids (may it not be for a few decades) and he takes his family on the trail, what will he remember of this day? Will he remember the people passing by? Will I (as a grandparent by then) be in the back of the group, helping the grandkids get across some boulders? I do notice the uptick in people who have passed on the trail since I walked is decades ago. But, what will it be decades from now? If the number of people continues to walk on the trail increases, will the size of the trail increase? Will the natural surroundings in which people enjoy being cut down for the expanded trail?
All of this has to do with Population. It is a population which drives the priorities of how we spend our resources. Every ten years, the US takes a census trying to figure out the current population as this information goes into redefining political boundaries, mapping out police departments and emergency services, even how many school lunches are delivered to a school. (2)
| Figure 1 - Population Map |
On 7/11/2018, the world celebrated "World Population Day", which throws a spotlight on the world and its population density. According to the Pew Research Center, "As of this month, the world’s population is 7.63 billion, according to the United Nations, which celebrates World Population Day today. More than half of all people around the globe (3.97 billion) live in just seven countries, according to the UN’s estimates. China has the world’s largest population (1.42 billion), followed by India (1.35 billion). The next five most populous nations – the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Nigeria – together have fewer people than India. (see Figure 1)"
"The demographic future for the U.S. and the world looks very different than it did in the recent past. Growth from 1950 to 2010 was rapid — the global population nearly tripled, and the U.S. population doubled. However, population growth in future decades is projected to be significantly slower and is expected to tilt strongly to the oldest age groups, both globally and in the U.S." (1)
Conclusion
Population drives decisions and how resources are allocated, where things are made, how things are marketed, and where goods are sold. The trail that my Son will walk on with his family in the future will be there, but maybe some of the languages he hears from other people on the trail will be different.
Thank you for taking the time to read the blog. If you have any questions, please leave them in the space provided below.
Bibliography
(1) Which 7 countries hold half the world’s population? (July 11, 2018), Pew Research Center, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/11/world-population-day/
(2) https://www.census.gov/
