World Population reaches 7 Billion… …can we handle it?

October, 2011 The United Nations Population Fund announced that there would soon be 7,000,000,000 people sharing the earth!

(where there are more cows than people ) It might be hard to notice a large increase in population in southwest Wisconsin (where there are more cows than people ) World Populations 1 Billion 1804 2 Billion 1927 3 Billion 1959 4 Billion 1974 5 Billion 1987 6 Billion 1998 7 Billion 2011 123 years 32 years 15 years 13 years 11 years 13 years

Africa Africa has the highest birth rate As part of their culture, men want many children Nigeria – growth rate estimated 3.2 Uganda – growth rate estimated 3.2 (Demographers say a growth rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain a population)

Western Europe, Russia, Japan Worried about low birth rates (why would this be a problem?) Countries like Spain use to offer parents 2,500 euros (over $3,000) for newborn children

China & India The two largest populated countries in the world Reassessing policies that were once created to slow growth China – growth rate around 1.5 (Demographers say a growth rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain a population)

Italy In 2011, 4th consecutive year more died than were born Population still increased because of immigration

Why is this a problem? By 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in a place of severe water scarcity Can the earth provide enough food, water, & resources for that many people?

World population nears 7 billion: Can we handle it? Western Europe, Japan and Russia fret over low birth rates while Africa’s population soars By David Crary Associated Press Updated 10/17/2011