Courses

The global population stands at 8.1 billion and is growing at an annual rate of 0.91 percent, adding 73 million people each year. Many experts are concerned about this situation, arguing that it threatens local ecosystems, reduces resource availability, and increases our carbon footprint. As a result, they contend, additional efforts are needed to reduce population growth. But around the world, fertility rates are currently plummeting. Most countries now have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In some, such as South Korea, the rate is below 1.0 and still falling. Many experts are concerned about this fertility decline, arguing that it threatens social stability, economic prosperity, and even cultural survival. As a result, they advocate policies aimed at increasing birth rates. Many other pressing and controversial issues are linked to this geographically uneven combination of population expansion and fertility decline, including international migration, urbanization, and growing generational tensions. This course explores global demographic developments in a neutral manner, focusing on what is happening rather than on what should be done. Controversial evaluations will be outlined, but no positions will be taken. Lectures will focus on the geography of population, using both maps and graphs to illustrate changing conditions. Historical demographic patterns and processes will be explored, along with predictions of future conditions.