[naasking]

Every affluent country's fertility rate is below replenishment levels. Their population growth rate is only positive due to immigration.

In fact, global population will likely peak around 2050, and then start falling, which will be a whole new crisis. People will look back at overpopulation fears and laugh.

[Reason077]

In fact, global population will likely peak around 2050, and then start falling, which will be a whole new crisis. People will look back at overpopulation fears and laugh.

A rapid fall in population would be problematic, but a steady state or slow gradual decline would be beneficial - and perhaps environmentally necessary.

Obviously you need to ensure there are enough young people to support and care for the elderly, so population can't be too top-heavy. But improving technology (robots, AI) should reduce the need for labour without compromising living standards.

[lqdc13]

Sure, but why does it stop? It doesn't seem to be a specific population density, but culture + economics.

Like for example, look at this Haiti plot: https://knoema.com/atlas/Haiti/Population-density

It is already 1.5x more dense than Germany. 3x more dense than China. Would it stop? When?

Why is Switzerland 9x more dense than Ireland? Is population of Ireland expected to eventually grow to that of Switzerland?

[naasking]

Yes, environmental factors largely dictate the fertility rate, particularly economic such as career opportunities, and health care related (longevity and particularly infant mortality).

[AnAfrican]

density for countries is such a bad datapoint... (remember half of China is empty which lowers the national average by a lot)