World population surpasses six billion: US

AFP ^ | Tue, Mar 23, 2004

[BikePacker]

Like flippin' cockroaches

[LiveFreeOrDie_NY]

current actual population is: 6,356,009,704

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

[etcetera]

How do they know all this? Facts or computer models?

[kennedy]

How do they know all this? Facts or computer models?

...
5,999,999,996
5,999,999,997
5,999,999,998
... Hey kid, didn't I already count you? Dammit, I lost my place. Now I have to start over ...
1
2
3
...

[expat_panama]

The man hasn't been born that can solve the population problem.

[Nea Wood]

Wonder how long before all 6.2 billion are living in the U.S.?

[presidio9]

Though not for lack of trying...

[presidio9]

Interesting that the article mentions AIDS in an article about a slowdown in population growth. Those at most risk for AIDS rarely procreate.

[G L Tirebiter]

Interesting that the article mentions AIDS in an article about a slowdown in population growth.

The local paper (Atlanta)ran the AP version of the story and led with the AIDS angle.

While the decline in life expectancy in Africa is affecting the numbers this version of the story has it right.

It's declining fertility that is slowing the growth. And much of that can be attributed to increasing prosperity.

The bad news - not in this article - is the rapidly aging demographics in W. Europe and N. America. The social welfare states are heading for the proverbial fiscal train wreck.

Choo choo...

[Feiny]

It is all Bush's fault!!!! (no charge for thr double entendre)

[Dan Evans]

Those at most risk for AIDS rarely procreate.

Except in Africa. Most AIDs cases in Africa are among heterosexuals.

[GOP_1900AD]

We'll be passing the same point again on the way down within the life times of some of the younger Freepers.

[Dan Evans]

It's declining fertility that is slowing the growth. And much of that can be attributed to increasing prosperity.

I've always wondered why increasing prosperity causes declining fertility. It doesn't seem to be a general rule -- Russia's population has been declining but they haven't been getting more prosperous.

[Dan Evans]

The man hasn't been born that can solve the population problem.

Which population problem? The problem of too many people or the problem of too few people? Some Western countries have fewer than two births per woman.

[beavus]

current actual population is: 6,356,009,704

Did you remember to subtract one for Sheikh Ahmed Yassine?

[henderson field]

There is no problem of "too few people," as if we imagine that the human race will become extinct. We are now one billion people past the ability of the planet to support its population. Notice that it is going up, not down. Good luck, boys and girls.

[roadcat]

There is no problem of "too few people," as if we imagine that the human race will become extinct. We are now one billion people past the ability of the planet to support its population. Notice that it is going up, not down. Good luck, boys and girls.

Yes, there is a problem of "too few people". Too few of us. Now, how do we get "them" to cut it out over there?

[Pagey]

Which population problem?

What a great question! What population problem? The only problem with the population of planet earth (to paraphrase P.J. O'Rourke) is that there are too many people (on the continent of Africa) making their livings off spaces the size of my living room carpet. LOL and it's absolutely true too.

[Dan Evans]

There is no problem of "too few people," as if we imagine that the human race will become extinct. We are now one billion people past the ability of the planet to support its population.

Most demographers agree that the growth rate of the world population is declining and will stabilize at about nine billion people. The planet will easily be able to support that many people if the technology of Western Civilization is available. However, if birth rates decline in the West and our civilization falls to barbarians hoards, then, yes, it will get ugly.