Birth dearth
Encyclopedia
Birth dearth is a neologism referring to falling fertility rates. In the late 1980s, the term was used in the context of American
and Europe
an society. The use of the term has since been expanded to include many other industrialized nations. It is often cited as a response to overpopulation
, but is not incompatible with it. The term was coined by Ben J. Wattenburg in his 1987 book by that same name.
Sociologist and author Ben Wattenburg also pointed out that to maintain Zero population growth
some percentage of families need to have more than two children, to make up for the fact that others have one or zero children, be it due to infertility, other medical problems, or choice. Immigration is also a factor.
Countries and geographic regions that are currently experiencing falling population include Russia, Europe, Japan, and populations of people of these descents in other countries such as in the United States.
is often mentioned in articles concerning birth dearth because of its rapidly declining population, and the proposal by Vladimir Putin
to offer women additional benefits for having multiple children. It predicted that Russia's population will be an estimated 111 million in 2050, opposed to 147 million as of the year 2000 according to the UN World Population Prospects report (2004 Revision, middle variant).
holds a position in the world as one of the few major geographic region that will decline in population
in the coming years as opposed to growing. Indeed, Europe is expected to shed hundreds of millions by 2050 alone with the Total Fertility Rate
(TFR) falling below the level necessary for replacement (Further information: Sub-replacement fertility
and Population decline
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an society. The use of the term has since been expanded to include many other industrialized nations. It is often cited as a response to overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
, but is not incompatible with it. The term was coined by Ben J. Wattenburg in his 1987 book by that same name.
Sociologist and author Ben Wattenburg also pointed out that to maintain Zero population growth
Zero population growth
Zero population growth, sometimes abbreviated ZPG , is a condition of demographic balance where the number of people in a specified population neither grows nor declines, considered as a social aim....
some percentage of families need to have more than two children, to make up for the fact that others have one or zero children, be it due to infertility, other medical problems, or choice. Immigration is also a factor.
Countries and geographic regions that are currently experiencing falling population include Russia, Europe, Japan, and populations of people of these descents in other countries such as in the United States.
Russia
RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
is often mentioned in articles concerning birth dearth because of its rapidly declining population, and the proposal by Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
to offer women additional benefits for having multiple children. It predicted that Russia's population will be an estimated 111 million in 2050, opposed to 147 million as of the year 2000 according to the UN World Population Prospects report (2004 Revision, middle variant).
Europe
As is well known and widely publicized, EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
holds a position in the world as one of the few major geographic region that will decline in population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
in the coming years as opposed to growing. Indeed, Europe is expected to shed hundreds of millions by 2050 alone with the Total Fertility Rate
Total Fertility Rate
The total fertility rate of a population is the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates through her lifetime, and she...
(TFR) falling below the level necessary for replacement (Further information: Sub-replacement fertility
Sub-replacement fertility
Sub-replacement fertility is a total fertility rate that leads to each new generation being less populous than the previous one in a given area. In developed countries sub-replacement fertility is any rate below approximately 2.1 children born per woman, but the threshold can be as high as 3.4...
and Population decline
Population decline
Population decline can refer to the decline in population of any organism, but this article refers to population decline in humans. It is a term usually used to describe any great reduction in a human population...
).
External links
- "Birth Dearth", Michael Meyer, NewsweekNewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, September 27, 2004 - "Behind the Birth Dearth", Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post, May 24, 2006
- The "End of species" hypothesis Does demographic decline mark the end of humanity's life cycle? May ET civilizations follow the same path?