Population Growth

The line graph shows the world population growth in less developed countries and more developed countries between 1750 and 2150. This information is based on the United Nations World Population Prospects, the 1998 Revision, and estimates by the Population Reference Bureau.

In the first two centuries the population growth was very slow in poorer and richer countries. In 1750 the total world population was less than one billion in both poorer and richer countries. The population of less developed countries was three or four times greater than that of more developed countries. From 1950 to 2000 the population growth was very fast. By 2000 the population growth in poor countries was 5.1 billion, but only about 1 billion in richer countries. They estimate that by 2150 the total world population will be around or over 10 billion in poorer countries, but for richer countries it will remain about one billion. It may even drop slightly.

It is estimated that the total world population will increase dramatically over the next centuries but that growth will be entirely in the less developed countries.