Global fertility projected to crash by 2100

[Kyng]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53409521

The world is ill-prepared for the global crash in children being born which is set to have a "jaw-dropping" impact on societies, say researchers.

Falling fertility rates mean nearly every country could have shrinking populations by the end of the century.

And 23 nations - including Spain and Japan - are expected to see their populations halve by 2100.

Countries will also age dramatically, with as many people turning 80 as there are being born.

As a result, the researchers expect the number of people on the planet to peak at 9.7 billion around 2064, before falling down to 8.8 billion by the end of the century.

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Long-term, this probably isn't a bad thing: the Earth as a whole is pretty overpopulated as it is, TBH.

However, if the population declines too steeply or suddenly - then, that's going to cause significant societal issues. Lots of elderly people who will need to be cared for - and not enough younger people to care for them (and that should be especially concerning to those of us who are currently young, since we'll likely be the old people in this scenario...)

[MamaFrankie]

The human race dying out? Best thing that could happen!

[Spook of the lost]

Hmm, I wonder if it has to do with the decreasing desire for physical companionship in our increasingly digitalized world?

I know it's certainly far more difficult to meet people today than it was twenty years ago, pandemic not withstanding of course.

It's like, less people want to be around each other instead of sticking their heads in their phones, absorbed in social media.

Said media is also constantly driving both unrealistic personalities and unrealistic expectations of physical appearance, moreso than tv and movies before it.

People simply don't have to be around each other anymore or get to know one another in our modern age...

If people aren't interacting outside of the net well... Things like intimacy, having children, etc simply can't happen.

Couple that with people focusing on their careers in an effort to carve out a niche in an increasingly polarized economic system and people put their jobs before this kind of thing... Japan is an excellent example of career minded populations causing birth decline.

As much as I am for controlling the population it might be good if something encouraged less staring at people's phones and more interaction between people in the real world...

That or hopefully algorithms and better technology will make meeting people easier in this increasingly disconnected world.

[MamaFrankie]

Your post makes a lot of sense, Spook. But not everyone craves companionship or sexual relations. I am asexual, don't like children and am not a fan of the human race as you will have gathered.

I certainly don't advocate forced extinction of humanity as that would be drastic. But I have never been a 'people person' and I know too well what they are capable of.

I couldn't have children anyway as I am menopausal and have mental health issues which make me an unfit mother.

[Spook of the lost]

@ MamaFrankie as you can understand I meant no offense, your case is certainly unique and I respect your position as everyone will be different.

Surprisingly I hold much distain for humanity as a species as well, though I have seen evidence that they can change for the better if given the correct insentves.  It's an issue with cultural ideologies and petty fears and feuds that I dislike.

However the majority are not asexual or even homosexual, and many are naturally drifting toward the asexual end of the spectrum, not because they are but because they are simply becoming comfortable in isolation with a false cense of community due to social media and their interests and experiences within it warping their cultural ideologies to greater extremes.

My concern is that a lot of people's ability to communicate and work together in person is being slowly chipped away at.

Ok good example, in one of my more recent pre covid interactions with people at the bar I did karaoke at.

About half of those with their friends were on their phones ignoring the group and self isolating in social media.

One of my close friends and I had to make a rule because she was constantly being tempted despite being upset when I showed the same proclivities which was, only check your phone if it's a message from someone important.

The desire to update that facebook post or see the latest instagram picture or meme can be incredibly strong, I was being drawn in without realizing it and I barely use social media!

Now I think post covid a lot of groups could learn from that experience, when you're out with people, phones down unless it's important like a family member or something.

I could easily see this leading to a loss of communication and lower birth rates as a result.

[MamaFrankie]

Very true, Spook. The 'me first' culture has now come to the fore.