In the 1970s, so-called experts sounded the alarm about overpopulation. Paul Ehrlich’s The Population Bomb warned that the planet would soon become too crowded to sustain humanity. Obviously, those predictions proved false. Now, the real crisis is the opposite: a global population collapse.
A study published in the Lancet medical journal has predicted that the world’s population will fall for the first time in centuries. According to the study, by 2050, three quarters of countries across the world will be below replacement rate, meaning they cannot sustain their population size. Most countries already have birth rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. Countries like South Korea (1.12), Italy (1.03), and Japan (1.4) are experiencing some of the steepest declines. Even the United States is below replacement at 1.78 children per woman.
Why is this happening? Social and cultural shifts are at the heart of the issue. Many younger people are delaying or avoiding marriage and parenthood altogether. Economic pressures, career ambitions, and a focus on personal freedom are driving this trend. Additionally, climate anxiety is contributing to a growing belief that having children is irresponsible or unsustainable.
The consequences of population decline are profound:
- Economic strain: Fewer workers will mean slower growth, higher taxes, and increased pressure on social support systems.
- Labor shortages: Key industries like healthcare, education, and infrastructure could struggle to find enough workers.
- Aging populations: A larger share of elderly people will put more pressure on healthcare and retirement systems.
- Loss of innovation: Fewer young people means fewer new ideas and less technological advancement. […]
— Read More: www.lifenews.com
Abortion is not the major problem with the decrease in child birth. I would say that the fact that it takes 2 people’s salary to make ends meet now and it is not going to get any better in the future. Taxes and inflation makes it hard to people to be able to afford a child or children. As the middle class slips slowly into the poor class, anyone with one eye and half sense does not want to take on a bunch of kids. As a prime example, fifty years ago, I had a middle class job, I managed to buy a house and have 2 kids. Finally was able to have a car for the wife and a pickup for me. After living expenses, taxes, insurance there wasn’t much left to even have a decent vacation. Most of my vacations were staycations where I painted the house, fixed the lawn mowers or kept up the yard. I’m not complaining but until both of my kids were married with jobs, my wife and I never had any money to spend to buy what we WANTED rather than what we needed. Now fast forward fifty years, prices are higher and taxes are higher and inflation has ruined couples having extra money and our fine prez is putting tariffs on everything we need. And it you think the business that pays the tariffs is the one stuck with the increase you need to wake up because it is the consumer that ends up paying the tariffs. You is the consumer.