Teachers Guide: Discussion Questions
World Population Growth, 1750-2150 Population, in billions .gif)
Source: United Nations,
World Population Prospects, The 1998 Revision; and estimates by the Population Reference Bureau.
- According to the projection shown on "World Population Growth, 1750–2150," about what percentage of growth is projected to occur in less developed countries after 2100?
- Which region is projected to gain the greatest share of world population between 2000 and 2050?
- During what "age" of human history did the world's population begin to grow rapidly?
Reading
- What is the world's population in 2000? How many people were added to the world population in 2000?
- Which regions have the fastest rate of population growth?
- In which region does the greatest share of the world's population reside?
Data
Examine the World Population Data Sheet.
- Select five countries and find the corresponding population estimates, growth rates (rate of natural increase), and doubling times. Apply the rate of natural increase to the population to find the number of people being added to those countries this year. How do the doubling times (for the current rates of natural increase) relate to the projected populations?
- Find the countries with the highest and lowest growth rates. In which regions are these countries located?
Discussion
World population growth was very slow during the Stone Age. Why was growth so slow during this period?