Early Population Growth

World Population Growth Human Population: Fundamentals of Growth Population Growth and Distribution World Population Growth, 1750–2150 Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects, The 1998 Revision; and estimates by the Population Reference Bureau.

World Population Growth

World Population Growth THE WORLD AT SIX BILLION: HIGHLIGHTS 1. World population crossed the six billion threshold on October 12, World population is projected to cross the 7 billion mark in 2013; the 8 billion mark in 2028; the 9 billion mark in World population nearly stabilizes at just above 10 billion after It has taken just 12 years for the world to add this most recent billion people. This is the shortest period of time in world history for a billion people to be added. 4. World population did not reach one billion until It took 123 years to reach 2 billion in 1927, 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960, 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974 and 13 years to reach 5 billion in The highest rate of world population growth (2.04 per cent) occurred in the late 1960s. The current rate ( ) is 1.31 per cent.

THE WORLD AT SIX BILLION: HIGHLIGHTS 6. The largest annual increase to world population (86 million) took place in the late 1980s; the current annual increase is 78 million. 7. Of the 78 million people currently added to the world each year, 95 per cent live in the less developed regions. 8. Eighty per cent of the world currently reside in the less developed regions. At the beginning of the century, 70 per cent did so. By 2050, the share of the world population living in the currently less developed regions will have risen to 90 per cent. 9. The population of the world is aging. The median age increased from 23.5 years in 1950 to 26.4 years in By 2050, the median age is projected to reach 37.8 years. The number of people in the world aged 60 or older will also rise from the current one-of-ten persons to be two-of-nine by Currently around one-of-five persons in the developed countries are aged 60 or older; in 2050 nearly one-of-every three persons will be aged 60 or older.

THE WORLD AT SIX BILLION: HIGHLIGHTS 10. World life expectancy at birth is now at 65 years, having increased by a remarkable 20 years since1950; by 2050 life expectancy is expected to exceed 76 years. However, in spite of these impressive gains, recent years have shown a devastating toll from AIDS in a number of countries. In addition, in some Eastern European countries, health has been deteriorating and mortality, particularly among adult males, has been rising. 11. Couples in developing countries today have on average 3 children each; thirty years ago they had six. More than half of all couples in developing countries now use contraception. 12. The number of persons who have moved to another country has risen to over 125 million migrants today from 75 million in The world has become increasingly urban. Currently, around 46 per cent of the world population lives in urban areas; the majority of the world’s population will be urban by _______________ Source: United Nations Population Division

Let’s take a look at how all this began…

First Agricultural Revolution Since the beginning of time Humans used Hunting and Gathering as their main method of attaining food. around 8000BC – humans learned to cultivate crops, domesticate animals. They shifted from Hunters and Gatherers to Farmers. Impact was great - larger numbers of people could now be supported, because of more food. This first began in SW Asia - Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern Iraq). This area had rich soils and lots of water. The rivers flooded annually leaving behind excellent fertilized soil. Wheat, barley, oats, peas, sheep and goats.

Also occurred in delta (mouth of rivers!) areas. Social systems began to evolve; society became more complex. You now need all types of rulers and governments. Ideas spread (spatial diffusion): into the Nile area, south into Africa, west along Mediterranean, north into Europe, east to India, eventually China.

Agriculturalists became powerful. Hunters and gatherers were restricted to marginal lands. Six distinct hearth regions emerged.

Agriculture led to the rise of complex civilizations and social organizations. Greek and Roman. Population growth soared. Other skills emerged - metallurgy, paper, gunpowder.

Population Momentum: Over time growth occurs exponentially (compounding): 2 – 4 – 8 – As opposed to arithmetic growth: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4... (we will find out later this is the way food production grows – Can this type of growth feed the world’s population?) Time Pop. Food

Second Agricultural Revolution mainly in Europe (around 1600) Coincided with the Scientific Revolution at end of the Middle Ages. Improvements based on science and technology - food production boosted. eg. Nitrogen as a fertilizer was discovered, canal construction, swamp lands were drained and sheep were cross bred for desirable characteristics.

Within 100 years population went from 500M to about 800M. Large urban areas emerged – Urbanization was just beginning.

Trends in Urbanization, by Region Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision (medium scenario), © 2003 Population Reference Bureau Urban Population Percent

Industrial Revolution Characterized by the application of machines to farming, eg., steam powered tractor, threshing machines, grist mills, pumps. Population soared - from 1750 to 1800 another 200M people were added to world total. By 1850 the total was 1B. Could food production keep up?

Coal was important and population therefore began to cluster around important coal producing regions. Eg., Rhine-Ruhr of Germany, Eastern Europe, Northern England. Population began a dramatic rural to urban shift as lifestyles began to change. This of course is called Urbanization. People stopped being farmers, they realized that they could go to work – let’s say in the local factory – and purchase the food they needed. The people that remained farmers had to grow surpluses of food. They would keep want they needed and sell the surplus. Sounds simple!

World Population Growth DatePopulation 8000BC5M 4000BC87M 1AD250M M B 19302B B B B 19996B

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The End!