Demographics

=Demographic and Population Problems=


 * Crisis:** The global population is expanding at too great a rate for nations to feed their citizens.Although every second an average of 1.8 people dies of poverty related conditions, an average of 4.3 people are born. Because of overpopulation, resources are being strained and many nations in the developing world are experiencing problems in feeding and providing their populations with nourishment. Malnourishment has serious affects on the development of intellect in children and their susceptibility to disease, and must be stopped. Unfortunately, as communities attempt to feed themselves, sustainable farming is being ignored and soil is degrading which means the food that is produced in the farms lacks nutrients again. These trends will only increase in severity as we progress, unless a change is made.
 * Maps from Earth: A Graphic Look at the State of the World**

World Population Map for 2008


Nations with Malnourishment (Green-no problem to Dark Brown-severe problem)

Soil Degradation by Country

Global Population Projection code Natural Time unit      Births      Deaths       increase - Year      135,474,672   55,664,164    79,810,508 Month      11,289,556    4,638,680     6,650,876 Day           371,163      152,505       218,659 Hour           15,465        6,354         9,111 Minute            258          106           152 Second            4.3          1.8           2.5 code
 * World Population Statistics**

**Solution**:

 * Population expansion:** Although nothing can be done to force family planning, education in the developing world must be provided to all to encourage responsibility. This has been known to work in the western world, as populations in North America and Europe are both slowly declining to reach a balance. We must be wary not to force these values on citizens, but to explain the current population crisis and that contraceptives can make a great difference.
 * Soil Degradation:** Education once again must be implemented in the developing world to explain sustainable farming techniques and restore nutritional value to the farms. Techniques like crop rotation will provide great benefit in the years to come if they are utilized.
 * Nutrition:** NGOs like Feed My Starving Children must be encouraged and expanded to provide nutritional food that is beneficial to development to entire communities, especially children while they are in their crucial stages of development. Current food efforts often fall short as nutrients such as vegetables and proteins are often ignored in exchange for affordability.

**Sources:**
[|Nations Online: Countries of the World] [|Earth: A Graphic Look at the State of the World] [|New York Times Article: Child Hunger in India] [|World Vital Events]

Links to other MDGs Eradicating Hunger Achieving Universal Education Empowering Women Poverty and Health Insuring Environmental Sustainability Developing a Global Partnership for Development Basic Costs Demographics