Analyzingthe parameter at which the population is increasing, every minute 270 childrentake birth around the globe, the world’s population to hit 8 billion by 2023. The world’spopulation reached a billion at the start of the 19th century. 220years down the line, the scenario is such the world’s population is racingcloser to 8 billion. It was in the year 2011 when the world population crossed7 billion.
Since1990 every year, July, 11th is observed as 'World Population Day.' Onthis day across the globe, governments, NGOs, and the designated wings of theUN-run awareness campaigns and people are involved in the dialogues pertainingto the rising population.
On thisworld population day we will tell you what led the population to grow at suchan alarming rate and 5 major reasons after this:
HighBirth Rate in between 18th-20th centuries:
One of the prime reasons behind this alarming rise in thepopulation is the increase in Birth Rate. From the 18th till the endof the 20th century the birth rate was on the rapid rise. Around 250years ago on average, a woman gave birth to 6 children and this situationremained for over 150 years. A slight relief in the case came in the year 1950when the number came down to 5. After 1950 the birth rate gradually fell, but,meanwhile, the environment of population explosion remained to brew up.
Especially in Asia, where the population increased rapidly in India and China.The birth rate at present stands at 2.5 children for each woman. Owing to thesituation of high birth rate in the world, the global population reached 100 croresat the start of the 19th century. It took 123 years for the worldpopulation to reach 200 crores in the years 1927 and 300 crores in 1960. Oncethe population crossed 300 crores, every next 100 crores kept on getting addedto the population in two decades.
Increasein the Life Expectancy:
250years ago, the average life of humans was 28 years only, which has nowincreased to 70 years. If we take a look at the life expectancy scenario, theaverage age was just 28, which implies the majority of people died afterattaining the age of 28. It is since the 18th century, that lifeexpectancy is on the rise. There are 30 such countries where life expectancy isabove 80 years and in 100 countries above 70. In India, this rate stands at69.7 years.
Gradualdecreasing Death rate:
One ofthe prime reasons among others for the huge population rise is the decreasingDeath rate. It was in the year 1950 only when a gradual decrease in the bothBirth and Death rate was observed. The number says that in every 1000 people,20 died the number in 2020 stands at 8 only. Whereas the birth rate is stilltoo high in comparison with the death rate.
Lack ofawareness among women regarding contraception:
Earlierwomen had a lack of knowledge regarding contraception and methods to avoidpregnancy, which was one of the most prominent reasons behind the huge birthrate. If we take the case of the progressive nations in Asia, Latin America,and Africa, only 9% of the married couple made the use of contraception in1960. But the scenario changed in by 1990, by this time every second couplemade the use of pregnancy to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Today women are aware ofthe usage of contraception. As per the number revealed in 2015 64% of womenwere using contraception.
DecreasingInfant Mortality Rate:
Anothermajor reason behind the exponential rise in population is the decreasing infantmortality rate. In the year 1990 where 93 children died among every 1000newborns the status at present has improved due to medical intervention and thenumber in 2020 stands at just 37. However, infant mortality even depends on thefactor where a child is taking birth. Even today in Sub-Saharan Africa in every1000 infants 79 are dying, whereas the situation in America and Europe is farbetter, where the infant mortality rate is 6.
Rapidpopulation rise and low Birth rate:
Themajor question that must ponder is amid the low birth rate how the populationkept on increasing. The reason lies in the fact that the Birth rate tells usthe half story of the population. When we look at the death rate we find thatamong every 1000 people the death rate stood at 7.6, whereas on the same numberof people 18 are taking birth. Implying the birth rate is twice what the deathrate is.
India onthe top in population, and China’s population will decrease to half:
Around the globe, today 270 children are taking birth everysingle minute, which amounts to 13 crores in a year. The world is racingtowards 8 billion now, the same number is expected to touch 11 billion by 2100.It is expected that India will become the most populous country in the span of3-4 years. Whereas a report from the World Economic Forum says that there willbe a huge fall in the population of India and China towards the end of thiscentury. In the year 2100 India’s population will be at 1.09 billion, Chinawill slip to the third spot and Nigeria will be the second-most populous countryin the world.
Interesting Facts associated with the world population:
v Theworld’s most populated city is Tokyo with 3.7 crores residents, and New Delhi is inthe second position with 2.9 crores people. Whereas Shanghai is in third placewith 2.6 crore people.
v NewZealand has more wolfs than humans, In the year 1982, the population of NewZealand was 33 Lakh whereas the number of wolfs was 7 crore. That means forevery 1 human New Zealand had 22 wolfs. At present, the country’s populationis 50 Lakhs whereas the number of wolfs has decreased to 2.5 crores. Still, onevery 1 human, there are 6-7 wolfs.
v YouthPopulation - Across the globe, the number of people below 30 years of age ismore than 50%.
v Asper the report from the United Nations, the world population will increase by2.2 billion in the next 30 years, whereas with 1.2 billion Africa will contributeto half of it.