I was perplexed to read in the "Scotsman" on Wednesday that the UN had
predicted that the world's population would be 134 trillion in the next
three hundred years. I've checked the source, and of course it doesn't
quite say that. The UN report can be found at
http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/Long_range_report.p
df
The report provides a mid-range estimate of a population of 9 billion in
2300, with a high estimate of over 36 billion. The estimate has
unfortunately been eclipsed by an illustrative projection, made on the basis
of constant fertility at current rates. This figure was arrived at
by looking at the countries with high birth rates, like Angola, Somalia and
Yemen, and assuming that the population of those countries continue to have
their present high birthrates. This leads to a population explosion after
the year 2250, because it's only after that point that the exponential
increase
really bites. By the same argument, give them enough time and the British
royal family could take over the world.
Paul Spicker
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