Global Population Decline

SOURCE www.yahoo.com
A major study predicts that almost every country's population will be shrinking by the end of the century due to low fertility rates, with implications for global economy and societal reorganization.

Key Points

  • Fertility rates in half of all nations are already too low to maintain population size
  • By 2050, three quarters of all countries will have shrinking populations
  • 97% of countries are projected to have shrinking populations by the end of the century
  • Developing countries will see fertility rates increase while wealthier nations will see declines

Pros

  • Potential benefits for the environment and food security with a smaller population
  • Reorganization of societies and global economy may lead to new opportunities

Cons

  • Challenges in labor supply, social security, and nationalistic geopolitics
  • Reliance on open immigration may become necessary for economic growth