News / Economic Divide

World population decline crisis

Thursday, 10 June 2021 12:40 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 10 June 2021 12:49 AM ]

Population stagnation, fertility bust; fact or myth? Have deaths started to exceed births? Well check the numbers and see which countries are suffering from this, and of course, its economic impact. The era of high fertility is ending, but why?

Is it because women have gained more access to education and contraception? May be migration to urban cities is the cause? Or is the reason purely economical? Case studies will be looked at. Which countries are suffering the most from declining populations: China, which ust allowed couples to have three children? Or Italy, where maternity wards are shutting down.

And Japan has long been facing declining birth rates: how are they doing these days? And finally, one continent is going against the wave of low child birth, and that is Africa: countries there are outpacing the rest of the world, like in Niger: 7 children per woman, followed by Mali and Senegal. But believe or not, these countries are on a downward trajectory also, although by not much. There is a general viewpoint that a world with less people would be less burdensome on some key areas.

For starters, it is perceived that less people means more resources would be available. Climate change will not be as severe and the impact on the environment would be less. But there is another side to the story when it comes to low fertility or fewer babies being born. It could actually have a detrimental effect on the society.

Fewer babies being born into this world would eventually translate into fewer workers. This would then mean there would be more retirees. Just think about it: this could potentially turn societies upside down. The notion that a surplus of young people will drive economies and help pay for the old

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