On October 31, 2011, the world's population reached 7 billion people. Some countries celebrated this milestone, while others viewed it with concern due to the environmental and resource strain of continued rapid population growth. The population is projected to reach 8 billion by 2025 and 10 billion by 2100. Many worry that the population is growing most in poorer countries that have fragile environments and limited resources to support more people. Solutions proposed include increasing access to education for women and family planning services to slow population growth rates.

2. 31 October, 2011
was not only
Halloween

3. It was when the World’s
population hit
7 Billion!

4. Some Countries Celebrated:
 Zambia- 7,000,000,000 song contest
 Vietnam- staged a 7 billion concert
 Russia- authorities gave gifts to
selected babies
 Ivory coast- national comedians
staged a show.
 Philippines- 7 billionth baby born
(Danica)

5. But other countries do not think it
is a cause for celebration!
Instead they are VERY
concerned.

6. WHY are they so concerned?
Because …
More babies are being born and people are living
longer.
Population of the world is increasing too rapidly for it
to be sustainable.
1987- 5 billion
1999- 6 billion
2011- 7 billion
2025- 8 billion (predicted)
2100- 10 billion (predicted)
(India will overtake China as the world’s most
populous nation by 2025, with an estimated 1.5
billion people).

7. What is happening?
 More people means more people taking
resources such as
 Food
 Land for farming and building
 Loss of ground water
 Deforestation
 Heavy energy use (which leads to climate change)
 Population is growing most in poorest/
developing countries
 Poor countries also have fragile environments
 Rich countries try to protect what they have
and don’t really want to share

8. Activity to help you understand:
 4 people stand on one side of the room-
represent developed countries
 Rest of class stand on other side of room-
represent developing countries
 Resources allocated
Does it seem fair to you?

9. Who is populating the world?
 People in developing countries, especially
Africa, Latin America and Asia (5 kids or more
on average)
 These people have big families because of
 Cultural values
 Lack of education
 No family planning
 Want large families to work the land and as many of
their children die young
 Developed countries (2 kids on average per
year)

12. Facts
 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation
by 2025, with an estimated 1.5 billion people.
 If China did not have a family planning law (only 1 child per
family) the world population would have reached 1 billion in
2006.
 Some people say the Chinese law is against human rights, but
it has worked.
 USA is only developed country that has a growing population.
◦ White population of European heritage is not growing
◦ Immigrants are causing population growth from
 Latin America, especially Mexico (laborers)
 Asians (educated professionals)

13. How can this problem be solved?
 Education
 Family planning
◦ Keep girls in poor countries in school so they know about
family planning and have a choice (many marry at 13-14
years old and start having babies)
 Put less stress on the environment-decrease
dependence on fossil fuels
 Decrease the number of households (use less
energy)

14. If you want a sustainable
Earth for generations to
come, then something needs
to be done now .
What do you think should
happen?

15. Sources
Video articles
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/17/opinion/sachs-global-
population/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/10/26/why-is-global-
population-spiking.cnn
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/28/opinion/pearce-population-
fertility/index.html?iref=storysearch
China
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/28/world/asia/china-one-
child/index.html?iref=allsearch
CNN with map
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/28/opinion/pearce-population-
fertility/index.html?iref=storysearch
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/10/31/vassileva-seven-
billionth-baby.cnn?iref=allsearch
Birth RateMap
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurenmanning/2979574719/
Article in Philippine Enquirer 31st Oct 2011

16. Sources Continued
Photos
Danica
http://img1-cdn.newser.com/square-image/132204-
20111031075632/7-billionth-babies-born-danica-in-
philippines-nargis-in-india.jpeg
Deforestation
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/Im
ages/slash_and_burn_children.jpg
India
http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/gifs/india-population-
2011.jpg
African Family
http://blog.invisiblechildren.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/03/Screen-shot-2010-03-30-at-
10.31.57-AM.png
Educating Girls
http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/images/streetpi
c.jpg