The Price of Hedonism: Earth's Population Should Peak Before Century Ends

    

    "The world's population is growing more slowly and will peak at a lower level than projected, new estimates from the United Nations show.

    The Earth will top out at about 10.29 billion people in 2084, before declining to 10.18 billion by 2100, the U.N. said in biennial population estimates released Thursday. That compares with the Earth's population in July 2023 of 8.09 billion.

    Across much of Europe -- and in longtime population leader China -- population levels have peaked and are declining.

    Notably, this population reversal means that India has surpassed China as the world's most populous country, with 1.44 billion people last year, compared with China's 1.42 billion.

    The U.S. population, estimated at 343.5 million in 2023, is expected to keep climbing through the end of the century, but at a slower rate.

    Amid those slowing growth rates, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to make up a larger slice of the world population, climbing to just under a third by 2100. This reflects not just growth in Africa, but also declining Asian populations and flattening population growth in the Americas.

    In an increasing number of countries, the fertility rate has fallen below 2.1. In advanced countries, that is the replacement rate -- the level generally held to be needed to keep a flat population before accounting for immigration. The replacement rate in poorer countries is thought to be higher. The world's fertility rate, at 2.25 last year, is thought by some demographers to be a milestone -- the first time the entire world is now at replacement fertility. Population continues to rise because of the growth in the number of women of childbearing age. However, that is expected to plateau toward the end of the century." [1]

We need big enough number working people to take us out of our dangerous climate catastrophe pathway.  We are not getting enough of such people now. We are stuck in hedonism, chasing the pleasures no matter the price. We have to stop electing idiots who are running the show now.

1.  World News: Earth's Population Should Peak Before Century Ends. Dougherty, Danny.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 12 July 2024: A.16.