13.1.1

World Population

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World Population Growth

The world population is growing rapidly, more rapidly in developing countries.

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World population growth

  • The industrial revolution in the late 1700s kicked off the world's rapid population increase.
  • The world population reached:
    • One billion in 1820.
    • Three billion by 1960.
    • Four billion by 1974.
    • Six billion by 1999.
    • Seven billion by 2011.
  • World population is growing by roughly one billion every 13 years.
  • In 2023, India overtook China as the country with the largest population in the world, with more than 1.43 billion people.
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Reasons for growth

  • The main reason for population growth is an increasing birth rate and a decreasing death rate.
  • Birth rates are quite low in developed countries such as the UK.
    • This is due to access to contraception and education about how to prevent pregnancy.
  • Death rates are also low in developed countries.
    • This is due to access to health care and education about healthy lifestyles.
  • Birth and death rates are still quite high in developing countries such as Kenya.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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