The world's population may keep on increasing for the rest of this century. This will lead to a great challenge for food supplies, social cohesion and healthcare.

According to an analysis, there is a 70 percent chance that the population on Earth will continue rising from 7 billion presently to 11 billion in 2100.

The analysis overturns 20 years of consensus that the population of the world and the problem it brings will reach its peak by 2050 at 9 billion people.

Another important factor was included in the analysis for the first time. According to new data, HIV/AIDS is not claiming as many lives as it was being anticipated. "Twenty years ago the impact on population was absolutely gigantic. Now the accessibility of antiretroviral drugs is much greater and the epidemic appeared to have passed its peak and was not quite as bad as was feared." Raftery said.

tuco wrote:We've had similar debates before. For example here, here and here. Why do you think that quality of life will surely not keep up? Sure, if we take current conditions and apply them to future population growth*, it gets scary as the thesis of ecological footprint puts it - if everyone lived like me we would need X planets Earth. There is no way to tell, however, how we will live in 100 years from now.

edit:* or rather the other way around.

kennyc wrote:Humanity is a virus on planet Earth.

Scot Dutchy wrote:It does not bother me as I wont be around to see it.

Thorham wrote:

kennyc wrote:Humanity is a virus on planet Earth.

Yep, we're parasites alright. We take and destroy. House flies are more useful to nature then we are.

tuco wrote:As I have said before (in the links provided I think) overpopulation is defined as population exceeding capabilities of the environment it lives in. In other words, the total number of individuals in population is just one variable determining whether capabilities are exceeded or not. If we are overpopulated, we do not use resources available well. This can change.