Joey Ferguson

11 February 2015

1) Major Trends of the World Population

- In much of the developing world, women are generally having fewer children
than 40 years ago.
- World population is expected to rise from 7.2 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050,
most/nearly all of the growth expected to be focused in the less developed
portions of the world.
- Since 1970, infant mortality has declined by more than 50% globally.
- Between 1990 and 2013, womens deaths due to childbirth has declined by
nearly 50%.
- In 2010, 5 years ahead of the goal year, the world reached Millennium World
Goal #1, halving world poverty.
2) World Population Datasheet
a. Population will grow relatively little in North America. Europe is
expected to shrink by about 15 million. Latin America is expected to
increase by around 100 million. Asia will continue to grow, with India
alone growing to 1.7 billion, while China is expected to shrink by
around 100 million. Africa will more than double, going from 1.1 billion
to 2.4 billion in just 36 years. Nigeria in particular will more than
double in size, going from 177 million to almost 400 million
b. In Africa the fertility rate has significantly lowered in fertility rate (6.7
down to 4.7) and infant mortality rate has more than halved, with life
expectancy up 14 years to 59. Asian countries have seen a larger drop
in fertility rate, down to 2.2 from the 5.4 height in 1970. Asians have
seen a infant mortality rate down to 1/3 its level from 40 years ago,
and life expectancy is up to 71 years. Despite Europeans having an
already very low fertility rate of 2.3 in 1970, it has still dropped to
below replacement level at 1.6. Their infant mortality has dropped into
the single digits (6) from an already low 27 forty years ago, and life
expectancy is at a high 78. Latin America has a similar trend in the
fertility rate as Asia, dropping from 5.3 down to 2.2. Its infant mortality
has had the greatest improvement, dropping all the way from 86 down
to 18 in 40 years, and life expectancy is around 75. North America has
almost the exact same Fertility rate and Infant mortality rate trend as
Europe, the earlier down to 1.8 and the latter down to 5, and a life
expectancy around 79.
c. In 1970, the largest percentage of the population was the 0-4 age
group. Now the demographic is very even between 0 and 30 age
group.
d. 75%+ improvement
i. Cambodia (86%)
ii. Laos (80%)
iii. Eritrea (78%)
iv. Rwanda (77%)
v. Nepal (76%)
e. Boosted infrastructure
Better healthcare
Increased education
3) Population growth explained with IKEA boxes
Personally, I agree with Mr. Roslings presentation. From what I have observed
about the most pressing issues of our time, many weigh heavily on the fact

Joey Ferguson

11 February 2015

that the world population has grossly outgrown its healthy size. If we could
raise the living standards of the poorest of the world, the same who
contribute the most to the exploding population, we could kill two birds with
one stone. We would minimize world poverty as well as stop the world from
growing too much more. Once these issues could be tackled we could focus
our efforts elsewhere, such as on climate change.