About four babies are born every second around the world, making it about 250 every minute. About 360,000 are born every day. However, only about one person dies every second. This has caused our population to increase immensely.

On Nov. 15, the global population reached 8 billion. China has the biggest population of 1.45 billion. However, India is close to passing them with a population of 1.41 billion. How does this increase in population affect our world and future?

According to the United Nations, “the growing population has helped fuel consumption at what experts say is an unsustainable pace. It has contributed to environmental challenges, including climate change, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.”

This means our fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources will be used up faster and not be replenished. This will cause a decrease of population due to the need and human dependence on these resources.

However, there could be positive effects of population growth such as more chances to find a genius like Albert Einstein or Marie Curie, more cultural growth, or more labor for things such as farming and agriculture that will increase the food supply. 

So why has the population increased so much?

The reason would be modern technology. We now have modern medicine that helps people survive more. We also have food engineering that allows us to have more food supply. 

Also due to modern immunizations, the average age of death has increased immensely. In 1960, the average age was about 69.84. In 2022, the average age is 79.05. People living longer means less dying of old age.

Let’s talk about something a little more frightening. Many scientists have predicted the capacity of the Earth. The predictions have varied but the most popular prediction is 10 billion. It took 11 years to go from 7 billion to 8 billion. The UN says they expect the population to reach 10 billion by 2058. What would happen if we reached the maximum capacity? 

No one knows exactly what would happen. However, many predict a loss of food and water supply that would affect everyone. Theoretically, the world might be able to support more than anyone believes. 

Gandhi once said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”

Even though the population is increasing and is predicted to keep growing, there are many factors that could decrease the population. 

For example, a pandemic. Not only COVID-19 was a huge pandemic. Smallpox had a mortality rate of 30%. The Bubonic Plague had a mortality rate of 60%. Who knows when the next huge deadly disease will come.

Another one would be a fertility decrease. If fewer babies were born, the population would decrease.

No one knows exactly how the world will change in the coming years. The world population could increase or decrease. The increase or decrease could be positive or negative. For now, we will never know what will happen. We just have to do our best to help our planet and our community in other ways.