2050: 9,000,000,000

The U.N. Population Division now estimates that there will be 9 billion people alive in 2050.

That’s about 40% more than are alive now, and a number that the Earth can easily support if nations do not put economic barriers in the way of the free flow of resources (food, etc.).

In my view, the number is likely to cap out at 9 billion or a little higher, as the trend is already slowing worldwide. After it caps out, it’s like to start declining.

That’s not to say the future will be rosy in mid-century. Most of the growth will occur in developing nations whose leaders may not let them develop enough to handle their growing populations.

They may, for example, try protectionistic economic policies that spark trade wars and make it harder for their citizens to make money and buy what they need from elsewhere, leading to economic stagnation, recession, depression, and attempts by governments to start wars to get new resources (the real reason–coupled with national pride–that most wars are fought), to force abortion and other anti-child policies on their populations, or both.

Still, we’re not looking at a Malthusian crisis.

Of course, the 9 billion figure is predicated on the predictions of a department of the horribly corrupt and incompetent United Nations. It’s not an unreasonable figure, though, so

GET THE STORY. (Cowboy hat tip to the reader who e-mailed it!)

Excerpt:

“Future population growth is highly dependent on the path that future fertility takes,” the report said.

No! Really?

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."