HOW THE WORLD IS NOT OVERPOPULATED

HOW THE WORLD IS NOT OVERPOPULATED

Aging Population

Mercer, the largest human-resources consulting firm in the world, has declared that the “… UK FACES SEVERE WORKFORCE CRISIS BY 2025”. Mercer has stated on its website that there will be “… a perfect storm of falling net migration driven by Brexit and an ageing population, will lead to a severe shortage in the UK labour market.” (Mercer) [End quote].

The labor force of the United Kingdom is going to decrease so much so that companies “… will face significant costs trying to attract workers with the leadership and skills….” (See “Mercer” in the Works Cited section.) [End quote]. The lack of working age people is due to the fact that UK citizens have had very few children compared to past generations. Fewer working age people means less money to go into the economy and into the social security system. This is a big problem for Britain. But, it’s also a problem for many countries in the world.

The percentage of people reaching retirement age has increased significantly. A UN website has stated: “According to data from World Population Prospects: the 2017 Revision, the number of older persons — those aged 60 years or over — is expected to more than double by 2050…” (“Aging”) [End quote]. The same UN article also said: “…virtually every country in the world is experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population.” (“Aging”). [End quote]. This is something global in scope. Nearly every country is witnessing an increase in the percentage of elderly people.

This is due to low birth rates. The number of children born to a mother should at least be 2 or 3. According to Business Insider: “Demographers say countries need fertility rates of 2.2 children per woman to maintain a stable population, but many nations' birth rates, such as those of South Korea and the United States, have fallen below 2.” (“10 countries”) [End quote]. In the year 2017 the number of deaths in Spain surpassed the number of births (“Spain at risk”).

With fewer workers to support an aging population, many countries face financial problems. This is just one proof that the world is not overpopulated. Actually, it is underpopulated because it soon may not be able to properly support a large number of retiring people.

Population Density

The shortage of working-age people is not the only proof that the world is not overpopulated, as some fear. In fact, about half of the population of the world lives in just 1 percent of the dry land.

Using data from NASA’s “Gridded Population of the World” (“Gridded”) a researcher has constructed a map of the earth showing the most densely populated areas compared to sparsely populated regions. On this map, densely populated areas are colored yellow and the rest of the earth is dark. From the data, as we stated earlier, it is seen that almost one out of every two people, in the world, lives on just 1 percent of the land (Misra).

Unused Land

Vast regions of the earth are not used for agriculture or for grazing livestock and could be put to use for such purposes. Over 76 % of the dry land on planet earth is composed of wild shrub land, grassland, forested areas, and barren land. Of that total, grassland covers 13.72 percent of the dry land. Shrub land claims 14.96 percent. Barren land takes up 13.91 percent. Forests cover 33.66 percent of the land. (Source:  ourworldindata.org.).

Plenty of land is available, and with the use of technology and wise planning, it could be put to use serving a larger population on earth. Also, vertical-garden technology will be able to increase food production with a limited use of land and water. Many vertical garden designs use a minimum of resources to produce a maximum amount of food.

God Loves People

(God called out to Nineveh and spared that
city from being destroyed because they repented from their sins.
And, many in Nineveh believed on the Name of God.
See the book of Jonah.
In His love for us, God sent people to preach the Gospel.
 "[1] In those days came John the Baptist,
preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [Matthew 3:1-2].
Repent from sin (looking to God for help)
and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Resisting God and choosing sin
will keep us from reaching Heaven.)

When looking at this information as a Christian, or as one who studies the Bible, one will see that God’s Word is true today just as much as it was true thousands of years ago. What we understand about population and food production, God fully understands and even more so. In the book of Deuteronomy, the Bible says this about what God will do for His people who love and obey Him:

[Deuteronomy 7:13]. “[13] And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.” [Emphasis added].

God considers having many children to be a blessing. And, God promises to provide for the physical needs of His people. There will be plenty of grain, wine, oil, herds, and flocks for those who turn to God (See Deuteronomy 7:12). In the book of Psalms, God spoke through the psalmist and said:

[Psalm 127:3-5]. “[3] Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. [5] Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” [End quote.]

Since God is speaking highly of having children, and God has perfect knowledge of all things, God knows that the world will not be overpopulated. It will never have too many people for its size. God loves people and God will supply all our needs, especially as we turn to Him. He is not willing that any should perish.

2 Peter 3:9 says: “[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

John 3:16 says: “[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:17-18 goes on to say: “[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

If we believe on the Name of Jesus Christ for salvation, and make Him our personal Lord and Savior, we will be saved. Only by trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ and by trusting only in His payment for our sins can we be saved. Read more about this here at this link.

WORKS CITED:

(Mercer) "Mercer’s Workforce Monitor: UK faces severe workforce crisis by 2025." www.uk.mercer.com. (Published: March 29, 2018)

(“Aging”) "Ageing." un.org. (Unknown date.)

(“10 countries”) Kotecki, Peter. "10 countries at risk of becoming demographic time bombs." businessinsider.com. (Published: Aug 8, 2018).

(“Spain at risk”) Kotecki, Peter. “Spain at risk of 'demographic time bomb,' already has abandoned towns.” (Published: Aug 1, 2018).

(Misra) Misra, Tanvi. "Half the World Lives on 1% of Its Land, Mapped." 

citylab.com. (Published: Jan. 6, 2016).

(“Gridded”) "Gridded Population of the World (GPW), v3." http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu. (Published during or after 2015).

(ourworldindata.org.) Roser, Max and Hannah Ritchie. "Land Cover." ourworldindata.org. (Published during or after 2016).