Global Demographics

Lesson 1: World Population Trends

Lesson ContentDistribution of World PopulationTrends over TimeTrends across regions and countriesPopulation Geography (location of the world’s people)

Distribution of World PopulationTwo thirds of the world’s inhabitants are clustered in

East Asia South Asia South East AsiaWestern Europe. 

When Eastern North America is included, these four population concentrations account for ¾ of the world population.

Distribution and Structure:3/4 of people live on 5% of earth's surface!Total: 6.8 billion on planet as of March 5, 2010

Current World Population Counter from U.S Census Bureau As of 2009, the five most populous regions were:

Region % of World Population

Population

South-Central Asia 25.77 % 1.78 billion

Eastern Asia 22.64 % 1.56 billion

South-Eastern Asia 8.53 % 590 million

South America 5.69 % 393 million

Northern America 5.09 % 352 million

Distribution and Structure:Most Populated Countries Population

China 1.3 billion

India 1.2 billion

U.S. 310 million

Indonesia 240 million

Brazil 195 million

As of 2011, the most populated countries are:

World Population Density

Trends Over Time: World Population Growth, in BillionsNumber of years to add each billion (year)

All of Human History (1800)

130 (1930)

30 (1960)

15 (1975)

12 (1987)

12 (1999)

12 (2011)

14 (2027)

21 (2048)

Sources: First and second billion: Population Reference Bureau. Third through ninth billion: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005 and UN

A.D.2000

A.D.1000

A.D.1

1000B.C.

2000B.C.

3000B.C.

4000B.C.

5000B.C.

6000B.C.

7000B.C.

1+ million years

8

7

6

5

2

1

4

3

OldStoneAge New Stone Age

BronzeAge

IronAge

MiddleAges

ModernAge

Black Death —The Plague

9

10

11

12

A.D.3000

A.D.4000

A.D.5000

18001900

1950

1975

2000

2100

Future

Number of people in Billions

Source: Population Reference Bureau; and United Nations, World Population Projections to 2100 (1998).

Trends Over Time: World Population Growth Through History

Source: Population Reference Bureau, 2005 World Population Data Sheet.

Trends Over Time: Projected Population Change, by Country

Percent Population Change, 2005-2050

Trends Over Time: Population Shift

Trends Over Time: Population Growth Worldwide

Population Increase and Growth Rate, Five-Year Periods

80

8783

7976 76 75

72

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1980-1985

1985-1990

1990-1995

1995-2000

2000-2005

2005-2010

2010-2015

2015-2020

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

Net population added per year Annual population growth rate

Mill

ions

Per

cen

t in

crea

se p

er y

ear

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.

Graying Planet

Greying Planet

The End

An Aging World: The United States Class Discussion: Why Does this Matter to ME? What are the implications of an aging population for:

1. The U.S. housing market?

2. Social security and pension funds?

3. Public financing of colleges and universities?

4. Global migration flows?