I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of the phone ringing. UN Data shows the Fertility Rate falling from ~2.7 Births per Woman in 2000 to ~2.3 Births per Woman in 2024. Here is a handy chart of the data from 1960 to 2021. Global birth rates have been falling for most of the 20th and 21st centuries. Barring a major shift in demographics, the world’s population should peak this century. That isn’t a terrible thing, and probably a good thing from a climate perspective. But, it will have economic consequences which we will need to deal with (aging populations, economic stagnation, shrinking workforces, shrinking economies). None of this has to be a problem, but those types of demographic changes can cause societal instability.
Call me when the global birth rate is falling. Until then it’s a local problem.
And when the global birth rate is flattening I will throw a fucking party because we can finally start thinking about global sustainability.
The global birth rate is falling. It’s still quite above the replacement rate, but it is not as high as it used to be; it has fallen.
This comment makes no value judgement.
I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of the phone ringing.
UN Data shows the Fertility Rate falling from ~2.7 Births per Woman in 2000 to ~2.3 Births per Woman in 2024. Here is a handy chart of the data from 1960 to 2021. Global birth rates have been falling for most of the 20th and 21st centuries. Barring a major shift in demographics, the world’s population should peak this century. That isn’t a terrible thing, and probably a good thing from a climate perspective. But, it will have economic consequences which we will need to deal with (aging populations, economic stagnation, shrinking workforces, shrinking economies). None of this has to be a problem, but those types of demographic changes can cause societal instability.
Don’t be sorry, it’s the best news I’ve heard all decade!
The maddening thing is that you know the economic consequences would be easier to deal with a bit of solidarity, but we’re not going to.