World Population Hits 7 Billion

Statistics show that the world population reached 7 billion on October 31st. With such a large number of living civilians, how did we get here? It took us approximately 50,000 years to reach 1 billion world population back in 1800 and another 130 years to double the population to 2 billion in 1930. It only took another 30 years (1960) to reach the next billion and less than half the time (14 years) to reach 4 billion world population. Based on the trends, it is expected for the population to double with time, but it wasn’t until 1987, another 13 years, that the world reached another million civilians. Twelve years later, we reached 6 billion in 1999 and another 12 years later, we are reaching 7 billion. You want an even scarier statistic, the global population is expected to get to 8 billion by 2025. As we break down the statistics to better understand the trends of reproduction, we come to learn that demographics is extremely important in the growth of our population.

Through history, we have encountered the Baby Boom years in the United states and similar concepts in other countries that impacted the overpopulated regions. The concept of having a big family and many children were common throughout the world, especially in Asian countries. It was perceived that the more children that were available in the household, the more work can be divided to have a more leisure lifestyle. In addition to this, because the average human lived a life of 50 years, it was common for an early age of marriage that lead to having children at an early age as well. This has gradually changed through the years with the influence of education and women fighting for their own rights outside of the household, delaying the age of marriage and not even considering having children.

With the growth rate slowing down the past 50 years, it seems a bit peculiar as to how our population is still so high and constantly growing. With a 2.1% increase of population in 1960 and only 1.2% in 2010, it is important to consider the impact of technology on our lives. As technology developed, the medications and understanding of illnesses progressed as well. This lead to increasing the life span of the average human. With human living longer, the population stay high, even with fewer numbers of reproduction.

Even though the reproduction rate is not as high, the total population of the world still possesses a threat to human life. With more people to food, house and provide care for, the world’s resources which include food, energy, land and more are becoming more limited than before. With less land and natural resources like water available, the poor who depend on these natural resources to survive will struggle with daily life as the rich out competes them in resources.

Many countries are already trying to fight the impact of overpopulation. China for example, is the country with the highest number of population at 1.35 billion. Because of this, China has set limits on the amount of children per family to help limit the population influx. In addition to this, China is passing laws to decrease the use and impact of resources to help the environment and natural resources.

As we are fighting to improve poverty and food hunger already, the struggle will continue as sources grow limited. We are already facing the problems of overpopulation with limited space for schooling, which will only increase the differences in social statuses. While the rich grow richer, the poor will grow poorer. Although we are fighting to minimize the line between the rich and the poor, the social status will only grow further and further apart.

It is important to realize the impact of overpopulation in the world and to not take life for granted. In well-developed countries like the United States, there are many who do not value food and throw it to waste. It is important to consider the future of the world and not throw food to waste and preserve natural resources and animals that help to feed human life.