Is reaching a global population of eight billion an achievement or an indictment of humanity?

[Tooting Carmen]

I think the fact that world population didn’t growth as expected shows that some countries/societies achieved a certain level of wealth, education and women got more freedom. On the other hand we can see that birthrates show global wealth gap, Europe is dealing with massive demographic decline while Many African countries will face with overpopulation.

Except in Afghanistan and some SSA countries, most of the world has seen really drastic falls in birth rates. Even places you really wouldn't expect - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, some states in India - nowadays have below replacement rate birth rates.

[Mejgusu]

Except in Afghanistan and some SSA countries, most of the world has seen really drastic falls in birth rates. Even places you really wouldn't expect - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, some states in India - nowadays have below replacement rate birth rates.

I would say nearly all African countries, besides of Maghreb countries. As you can see, Afghanistan, Iraq and Jemen are having pretty high birthrates, obviously because of the current sad situation of their society. Some think that conservative societies lead to high birthrates, except some cases, it seems to be wrong.

[Tooting Carmen]

Some think that conservative societies lead to high birthrates

Up to a point, but like I said and the map itself demonstrates, look at the birthrates of Iran, Saudi Arabia, India and Bangladesh.

[Tooting Carmen]

Look at this:

[Incal]

So, population size is in itself a bigger problem than greed, corruption, inequality, political or religious or ethnic extremism then? (Playing Devil's advocate here btw).

All those problems get multiplied when there's more people. We should be 3 billion tops.

[Marshall Theodore]

As was said by CV, its a catastrophe