Population Growth

Question 1

what % did world population growth peak at in 1963?

Answer 1

2.3%

since then, it’s declined to 0.9% in 2023

Question 2

explain the distribution of population by region to the audience

Answer 2

Asia is largest at ~58%
Africa is 2nd at ~19%
Europe is 3rd at ~9%
Latin America is ~8%
North America is 4.71%
Oceana is 0.6%

Question 3

4 types of population growth

Answer 3

linear (straight line)
geometric (step-ups)
exponential (stonks)
logistic (S-shaped)

Question 4

describe linear growth

Answer 4

constant growth over time

works well for short period but doesn’t fit over long periods

Question 5

describe geometric growth

Answer 5

multiplies by the same amount at discrete intervals

100x2 … 200x2 … 400x2 … 800x2

Question 6

explain exponential growth

Answer 6

assumes constant increase at every instant of time … compounding effect

instantaneous growth

similar to geometric but with different time intervals

Question 7

explain logistic growth

Answer 7

a variation of the exponential model, starting with exponential growth and eventually approaching zero

follows Malthus assumption on resource constraints slowing population growth

Question 8

what model does global population growth correspond to?

Answer 8

the geometric and exponential models

… some theorists argue we’ll eventually exhibit a logistic curve

Question 9

what does logistic growth commonly describe…

Answer 9

not population but epidemic and disease figures

rapid contagion at first, then tapers off as medication is deployed

Question 10

T/F: time taken to reach the next billion of natural increase is longer today due to slower growth rates

Answer 10

True!

the last period was around ~12 yrs