World Population

ca. 11,000 bp 5 million

ca 2,000 bp 130 million

1650 500 million

1850 1.1 billion

1950 2.5 billion

1986 5.0 billion

2005 6.5 billion

2025 8 billion projected

Present population growth rate is about 1.5 percent per year -- about 250,000 per day and 90 million per year.

Less Developed Nations = 1.8

More Developed Nations - 0.1

For more information see the U. S. Census Bureau

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U.S. Population

1800 ----- 3,929,214

1900 ---------- 76,212,168

January, 2006 ------- 297,893,000

Current growth rate ---- 0.6 percent

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Approximate doubling time may be found

by dividing the rate of growth into 70:

td = 70/r

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A few population terms:

• birth rate: The number of births per 1000 individuals.
• death rate: The number of deaths per 1000 individuals.
• growth rate: The growth or increase of a population, expressed as percent per year. On a global scale, this is equal to the birth rate minus the death rate.
• doubling time: The number of years it will take for a given population to double in size at its current growth rate.
• infant mortality rate: The number of infant deaths per 1000 live births.
• fertility rate: The average number of born to a woman during her lifetime.
• immigration: The movement of individuals into a population.
• emigration: The movement of individuals from a population.

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Education Levels

Relative Importance of Children in the Labor Force

Cost of Raising and Educating Children

Urbanization

Educational Opportunities for Women

Fertility rates vs educational level for women:

Less than High school - 3

High school - 2.2

College -- 1.6

College 5+ years - 1.3

Employment Opportunities for Women

Age at Marriage

Availability of Public and Private Pension Systems

Religion, Culture, and Tradition

Government Policies

China -- Most extensive, intrusive, and strict but highly effective

India -- Government has provided some information and some reduction has occurred. Fertility rates remain high (ca. 3.9 per woman).

Mexico -- Voluntary, but accompanied by aggressive advertising and educational programs. Highly successful.

Nigeria -- Most rapid population growth on Earth. Educational programs and encouragement for later marriages just beginning.

Europe -- Population has stabilized.

Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University

last modified: 8/16/07