Rapid population growth

Rapid population growth

1. Population growth was slow until the start of the 19th

2. The worlds population took thousands of years to get to 1 billion (1804)

3. It took 123 years to reach 2 billion

4. Reached 3 billion in another 33 years

5. By the end of the 20th century it had doubled to 6 billion

6. It only took 11 more years to get to 7 billion

7. Experts think global population will stabilise at 9.5 billion by 2050

8. Natural increase - population grows when the birth rate is higher than the death rate

9. Medical progress lowers the birth rate

   • Primary healthcare - preventing disease e.g. immunisation
   • Secondary healthcare - treatment of illnesses

10. These social, economic and political factors keep the birth rate high

    • Social
      • Family planning is not widely used
      • Women receive little education and marry young
      • Families of five or more children are considered normal
    • Economic
      • Children work to support the family
      • Parents rely on their children in old age
    • Political
      • Governments do not provide family planning help
      • Religions may not approve of birth control