The world’s population
The global population grew from 1 billion in 1800 to 7 billion in 2011.
It is growing by around 1.2 percent each year and is expected to reach 11 billion by the end
of the 21st century. The biggest growth occurs in the poorest nations, indicating the direct link
between high population growth and low standards of living. Nations with high standards of living
generally have low or zero rates of population growth.
What do you think?
Split into three groups, with each group defending one of the claims below:
1. The Earth can support 7 billion people now and will be able to support any
number of people in the future because:
G
Science and technology will ensure that food production and energy supply will continue
to meet rising demand.
G
We can expand the area of land available for housing and growing food by cutting down
the rain forest.
G
We can use pesticides, chemical fertilisers and genetically modified crops to increase
farm yields and feed the growing population.
G
We can extract more oil to fuel more cars and satisfy our increased need for mobility.
G
Ultimately, jobs are more important than environmental quality.
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POPULATION GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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2. Even though we are only a small group of people among 7 billion, we still have a
responsibility to protect the Earth. We should accept that:
G
Without halting the rapid growth in population, it will be impossible for us to solve global
challenges.
G
We must protect the habitats of endangered species by not using them for development —
for any reason.
G
Car producers should be required to make all their vehicles fuel efficient, even though it may
make the vehicles more expensive.
G
Arable land should not be used for housing, business or other non-agricultural purposes,
as all available arable land is needed to produce food.
3. Our country is too small. There is nothing we can do to help alleviate
population-related pressures.
G
Water pollution is inevitable and we should not waste money trying to prevent it.
G
If we are to feed 7 billion people on the planet, the populations of developed countries must
reduce the amount of meat they consume.
G
Governments in countries with fast-growing populations should make laws to limit
the number of children that couples can have.
G
Highly developed, wealthy countries should accept immigrants from developing countries
with high rates of population growth.
What do you know?
1
What was the world’s population in 2011?
2
By how many people does the world’s population grow each year?
3
If the world’s population continues to grow at its current rate, approximately how long
will it take for it to double?
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a. 900 million
b. 2.5 billion
c. 7 billion
a. 11 million
b. 25 million
c. 45 million
a. 9 years
b. 22 years
c. 58 years
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d. 8.5 billion
e. 12 billion
d. 83 million
e. 160 million
d. 95 years
e. 148 years
According to the United Nations, at what size is the population expected to plateau?
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a. 5–7 billion
b. 9–11 billion
c. 13–15 billion
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POPULATION GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
d. 20–25 billion
e. It will always continue to rise
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Which of the following is the main reason for the population explosion?
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Which of the following is likely to be affected by population growth?
7
Which country was the most populous in 2011?
8
Which country is projected to be the most populous in 2050?
9
Which region’s population has the highest birth rate and the lowest
life expectancy?
10
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I
I
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I
I
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a. Decreasing death rates
b. Increasing birth rates
c. Advances in preventive medicine
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d. Lower infant mortality
e. Longer life expectancy
a. The amount of land available for agriculture
b. The amount of clean water available
c. The amount of energy used daily
d. The number of people who are unemployed
e. All of the above
a. India
b. China
c. United States
a. India
b. China
c. United States
a. South East Asia
b. Eastern Europe
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d. Mexico
e. Russia
d. Mexico
e. Pakistan
c. Latin America
d. Sub-Saharan Africa
Australia is the only nation in the world with both high population growth
and high standards of living.
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a. True
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b. False
ANSWERS: 1 – c I 2 – d (approximately the population of Germany) I 3 – c I 4 – b (expected to happen by 2050) I 5 – a (the decrease in death rates
has been the main cause of rapid population growth over the past two centuries) I 6 – e I 7 – b (China – 1.3 billion) I 8 – a (India – 1.7 billion) I 9 – d
(Sub-Saharan Africa – 1 in 12 babies do not survive and life expectancy is only 55 years) I 10 – a (Australia's population growth is around 1.8 percent per
year, which is higher than the global average. It is caused mainly by very high immigration (one of the highest immigration rates in the world).
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POPULATION GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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