(Image source: Randy Olson / National Geographic)
BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy.
The planet just keeps getting more and more crowded. New research shows we’ll pass the next major population milestone before the end of the year. CNN tells us what that number is...
“Later this year, the population on the planet Earth will hit the seven billion -- with a “b” -- mark. Yes, that’s pretty remarkable growth over the past 12 years. We just hit six billion in 1999. The U.N. projects it will top the 10 billion mark by the year 2100.”
Scientists aren’t sure the planet can support that many people. And the 10 billion figure is just
the low-end estimate. A writer for Gawker says, depending on how things play out, we may be seeing even more unfamiliar faces.
“There are various factors at play here, but short of, say, a global pandemic ... or some Malthusian catastrophe … the forecast for 2100 is as high as 16 billion. That is too many people, people!”
The researchers say populations in developed countries will stay roughly the same. The areas that will be hit hardest -- are the least able to manage more people.
“The places that are growing -- really can’t handle it! A Harvard researcher says developing countries like Africa are seeing the largest increases. And that’s straining limited resources like food, water, housing... and it’ll trap countries in poverty.” (Video source: HLN)
But is it all gloom and doom on the horizon? Not necessarily. A writer for Discovery News points out -- there’s at least one promising trend.
“...the variable that will make the biggest difference in how many people will live on Earth 100 years from now is ... the number of babies that women give birth to. If every woman had two babies, the world's population would remain stable. Today, there is a global average of 2.5 births per woman -- down from five in 1950.”
The researchers also estimate India will pass China as the world’s most populous country within 20 years.
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Transcript by Newsy.
