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How fast is Earth's human population growing? This page
contains facts (population statistics) about growth and
over population, followed by commentary by Gene Shiles,
author of "Tribes of the Orange Sun," "Pale Yellow Sun"
and "White Sun Chronicle."
(Descriptions of these most intriguing books are given later.)
For much of human history,
up to around 10 thousand years
ago (generally accepted by science, although some place
the time
a few thousand years earlier), Earth's human
population remained stabilized at around 8 to 10 million.
Since then it has grown, at varying rates, to reach its
present level of about 6,600 million
(6.6 billion). This
growth started when people began to grow crops and
domesticate animals,
which initiated the change from a
hunter/gatherer subsistence (natural food supply) to a
technology-driven food supply (agriculture). We note
that about 660 (or more) humans are alive
today (most
supported by agricultural technology) for every one
human who was supported by the
natural food supply
of early non-technological Earth.
The more recent "explosive"
growth, shown in tables and
charts below, is due to much more than just advances in
agricultural technology. Among other factors is the
decrease in the death rate due to advances
in medicine
and sanitation.
The table and bar chart
that follows shows world human
population in millions, in 50-year intervals, since the year 1750.
year
1750......790 million
1800......980 million
1850...1,260 million
1900...1,650 million
1950...2,555 million
2000...6,080 million
(data from United Nations
and Bureau of Census -
other source(s)may give slightly different numbers)
The next table and
bar chart shows world human population
in millions, in 10-year intervals, since 1950.
year
1950...2,555 million
1960...3,039 million
1970...3,707 million
1980...4,457 million
1990...5,284 million
2000...6,080 million
(data from Bureau of Census-
other source(s)
may give slightly different numbers)
Population Statistics: "Earth's present human population is about 6,600 million."
Using the numbers above,
we see that human population
increased by a factor of 1.84 (just less than doubled) in the
60-year period from 1900 to 1960. It doubled (roughly) in the
40-year period from 1960 to 2000.
In absolute numbers, the
picture is more revealing. In the 60-year period from 1900 to
1960, human population increased by 1,389 million. In the
40-year period from 1960 to 2000,
it increased by 3,041 million.
Consider that recent "doubling in 40 years"
for the
period 1960 to 2000 (increase of just over 3 billion).
This is an average
increase of 75 million per year - or
about 205,000 per day, 8,500 per hour, 140 per minute.
Now consider the 10-year period from 1990 to 2000.
The increase for that period is
796 million. This is
an average increase of 79.6 million per year - or about
218,000 per day, 9,100 per hour, 150 per minute.
Commentary
Many predict a slowing of growth in the future, even near
future. Certainly that is so.
Either societies will, using
one method or several methods, decrease the worldwide
birth
rate, or nature will eventually increase the death
rate (using nature's own draconian methods).
Many claim that Earth can support many more people. But
one must ask "How many more?"
At what cost in human
lifestyles and aggravated environmental problems?
Many claim over population is a regional problem. But
modern society is
increasingly "global." Problems in
particular region(s) must affect all others.
Are population growth problems serious today? One might
look at various "symptoms." Just
a few examples:
Thousands, mostly children, starve to death every day in
different places around the world.
Forests everywhere are
"disappearing." The global unpolluted fresh water supply
is in danger.
Illegal immigration is a big problem for the
United States.
Science and technology, and, yes,
politics, may "handle"
over population problems in the short term even if human
population
continues to grow. But what kind of world will
our great-great-grandchildren inherit? Eventually global
over population must be controlled, but the longer society waits
the more draconian must be the method and the
greater must
be the price paid in terms of environmental problems and
human lifestyles. Is space
colonization an alternative? If so,
where does one go? Can Earth "export" the numbers, the
many
millions per year, necessary to ease over population
and environmental problems?
Three Recently Published Books
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"Tribes of the Orange Sun," published in November, 2001, "Pale Yellow Sun," published in June, 2004, and "White Sun Chronicle," published in November, 2007, look at Earth more than two hundred years in the future. Population has grown to 24 billion. Science and technology has kept up with this over population (fed the people) and struggled with the environmental problems - but human lifestyles have changed dramatically. (Note that growth to 24 billion in 200 years requires a slowing of the current growth rate --to a doubling in 100 years instead of 40 years.)
These most compelling of sci-fi books also assume that the same science and technology has developed the means to send large numbers of people to other solar system(s).
Is space colonization the way to solve the over population problem once and for all?
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "Tribes of the Orange Sun."
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "Pale Yellow Sun."
*Click here on synopsis to read a short description of the story "white Sun Chronicle."
Click here to go to the "Tribes of the Orange Sun" home page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gene Shiles is a scientist and former
university professor. He holds a PhD
degree in Physics from the Universityof California.
His hobbies include, among others,
hiking, fishing, gardening and
easy-listening music. He grew up in
Illinois and currently lives in Minnesota.
He has a black cat named Panther.
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
The books are also available at other online bookstores.
To order by phone, call publisher toll-free: (877) 823-9235
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Tribes of the Orange Sun: ISBN # 0-595-20319-1The titles can also be ordered at Barnes and Noble brick-and-mortar bookstores.
SYNOPSIS, "Tribes of the Orange Sun"
Future scientists, struggling with over population and
environmental problems, devise an ambitious plan to
manage further population growth. Earth Government
hastily implements the new plan; the only alternative,
forced population control, is not politically attractive.
Adam Hampton, the newest member of the population
project's organizing team, objects to an excessively
optimistic use of old and some very new technologies.
He suspects that the plan is fundamentally flawed,
that the lives of the many young volunteers are at
risk. But, in the beginning, he cannot point to anything
specific. He can only watch and wait while three of his
best friends - and millions of others - begin what they
believe will be a great adventure and a new life.
The eager volunteers reach their destination, a faraway
earthlike planet, but events don't go as planned. They
must soon fight for bare survival against an ancient
menace - a menace that had plagued growing populations,
man and animal alike, since life first began.
SYNOPSIS, "Pale Yellow Sun"
The people of Emil, living a relatively idyllic life in
a bountiful land, learn that they will soon face great
change. Like it or not, they must end their isolation
and become entangled in the most critical problem
menacing the rest of civilization. All of their concerns,
both societal and personal, must make way for the new
challenge.
Andy Landis is a young engineer recently graduated from
prestigious East Quadrant University. He has been offered
a great new job, and is just beginning a romance with a
young woman he has known since childhood. His plans take
a turn when he is asked to take part in a decision crucial
to his society's future. He soon learns that the choice
will be between the ruin of his beautiful homeland and
mass murder - and suspects that the decision could
be his alone.
To make this terrible choice, Andy must uncover secrets
from that society's tragic early days.
SYNOPSIS, "White Sun Chronicle"
The citizens of crowded Earth, struggling to deal with
environmental degradation and lifestyle changes, face a
more crushing blow: world hunger.
The global food supply is destroyed and the people flee
the cities in a bid for survival. Hungry refugees find
that the only plentiful source of nourishment is what
had been, until recently, unthinkable.
Neil Silvers, a senior member of the Earth Senate, is
one of a lucky few who find sanctuary in a secure
building as chaos reigns outside. While he contemplates
the fate of the world, he also dreams about Laura, a
young, red-haired junior senator with intriguing green
eyes.
The group’s food supply soon runs out. Neil, Laura, and
a handful of others must venture outside to face a world
where humans compete with each other as never before.
Neil and what’s left of humanity confront their darkest
fears and soon learn what survival is really about.
Are these stories fantasy? Or are they really about the future
of our home planet? Our own present and future world?
Read "Tribes of the Orange Sun."
Read "Pale Yellow Sun."
Direct links to several online bookstores
(prices shown are list for trade paperback;
ebooks are $6.00 for any one of the three titles)
| Tribes of the Orange Sun ($18.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Yellow Sun ($13.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
| White Sun Chronicle ($16.95) --> | Publisher, iUniverse | Barnes&Noble | Amazon |
The books are also available at other online bookstores.
To order by phone, call publisher toll-free: (877) 823-9235
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Tribes of the Orange Sun: ISBN # 0-595-20319-1The titles can also be ordered at Barnes and Noble brick-and-mortar bookstores.
Click on population statistics to go back to the top of this page.
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*Synopsis, Tribes of the Orange Sun: Future scientists, struggling with population growth problems and the ruin of Earth's natural environment, devise an ambitious plan to manage further growth of human numbers. Earth Government hastily implements the plan for space colonization - the only alternative, forced population control, is not politically attractive. Adam Hampton, the newest member of the project's organizing team, objects to an overly optimistic use of old and some very new technologies. He suspects that the plan is fundamentally flawed, that the lives of the many young volunteers are at risk. But, in the beginning, he cannot point to anything specific. He can only watch and wait while three of his best friends - and millions of others - begin what they believe will be a great adventure and a new life. The eager volunteers reach their faraway destination, but events don't go as planned. They must soon fight for bare survival - against an ancient menace that had plagued growing populations, man and animal alike, since life first began.
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*Synopsis, Pale Yellow Sun: The people of Emil, living a relatively idyllic life in a bountiful land, learn that they will soon face great change. Like it or not, they must end their isolation and become entangled in the most critical problem menacing the rest of civilization. All of their concerns, both societal and personal, have to make way for the new challenge. Andy Landis is a young engineer recently graduated from prestigious East Quadrant University. He has been offered a great new job, and is just beginning a romance with a young woman he has known since childhood. His plans take a turn when he is asked to take part in a decision crucial to his society's future. He soon learns that the choice will be between the ruin of his beautiful homeland and mass murder - and suspects that the decision could be his alone. To make this terrible choice, Andy must uncover secrets from that society's tragic early days.
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*Synopsis, White Sun Chronicle: The citizens of crowded Earth, struggling to deal with environmental degradation and lifestyle changes, face a more crushing blow: world hunger. The global food supply is destroyed and the people flee the cities in a bid for survival. Hungry refugees find that the only plentiful source of nourishment is what had been, until recently, unthinkable. Neil Silvers, a senior member of the Earth Senate, is one of a lucky few who find sanctuary in a secure building as chaos reigns outside. While he contemplates the fate of the world, he also dreams about Laura, a young, red-haired junior senator with intriguing green eyes. The group’s food supply soon runs out. Neil, Laura, and a handful of others must venture outside to face a world where humans compete with each other as never before. Neil and what’s left of humanity confront their darkest fears and soon learn what survival is really about.
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Site Map
| Books about the Future | Online Novels | Future World |
| Tribes of the Orange Sun | Pale Yellow Sun | White Sun Chronicle |
| Over Population | Space Colonization | Earth Facts |
