Comment Re:The imact of longer life. (Score 1) 175
I heard on NPR recently that in order for the world to maintain its population, each woman needs to have 2.1 babies in her lifetime. The U.S. fluctuates at a birth rate of 1.9 to 2.0. China and Japan are both about 1.2 and even lower in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong. Europe had a birth rate of 1.6 I think.
At these rates, the world population is supposed to peak in the year 2040. Predicting world population trends is more than an art than a science. Most of these things are best guess estimates.
One problem with the world population declining is that there will be more older people than younger people. In most industrialized countries, 35 is the median age. There are as many people under 35 as above 35. If the pop. started declining, the median age would rise to 50. This would be very taxing on the US's Social Security System (No pun intended).
I guess we won't really know until it happens! :)
At these rates, the world population is supposed to peak in the year 2040. Predicting world population trends is more than an art than a science. Most of these things are best guess estimates.
One problem with the world population declining is that there will be more older people than younger people. In most industrialized countries, 35 is the median age. There are as many people under 35 as above 35. If the pop. started declining, the median age would rise to 50. This would be very taxing on the US's Social Security System (No pun intended).
I guess we won't really know until it happens!
