Introduction
The text should read as follows “Looking Ahead: Sustainability and the Future
The future is inherently unpredictable, but current data provides a clear and urgent picture of the demographic challenges ahead.
However, there are potential positive outcomes to decreasing populations. Population Crisis has consistently advocated for sustainability, and with sustainability comes predictability—namely, a stable climate and a societal system that can plan for the long term without needing to constantly shift strategy. As the human world ages, it may also become a wiser one, ennobling its inhabitants with innovations that can be deployed to its own advantage. This might seem utopian to some, but to us, it seems like common sense.
Sustainability is fundamentally a function of human consumption habits and nature’s ability to regenerate the resources consumed, creating a balance between the two. We believe population density plays a key part in this equation. If we are to eventually achieve a sustainable balance, human demographics must certainly be a factor. We believe continued research into sustainability will guide us.
As Population Crisis stated in its film Wake Up, Planet Earth: “How far population will reduce as a result of fertility decline will depend on all those factors above. And without a doubt, many countries will eventually benefit from population reduction.”
The following theoretical sustainable population levels, computed through sustainability modeling, are undoubtedly theoretical, and the figures listed below are unlikely to be attained within the foreseeable future. Whether a population grows or declines will depend on many factors, especially the ability of government policymakers to influence demographic trends.
Theoretical Sustainable Population Levels (Based on Current Consumption Habits)*
- · Japan: ~40 million
- · Egypt: ~20–40 million
- · UK: ~20–30 million
- · USA: ~169 million
- · China: ~330 million
- · India: ~470 million
*These (very) approximate figures depend on a country’s current consumption habits (e.g., reliance on fossil fuels, meat consumption, resource usage, and mining practices). These targets would also shift if a nation were to adopt more sustainable habits.
Both the trailer and the full length film “ Wake-up Planet Earth” are now freely available on You Tube
The following links will take you the films
Global Fertility Rate Snapshot (TFR – Total Fertility Rate)
| Country | 2000 | 2025 (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 3.66 | 3.12 |
| Egypt | 3.15 | 2.71 |
| India | 3.11 | 1.94 |
| United States | 2.06 | 1.60 |
| Tunisia | 2.04 | 1.56 |
| Mexico | 2.67 | 1.55 |
| United Kingdom | 1.74 | 1.54 |
| Hungary | 1.25 | 1.50 |
| Turkey | 2.16 | 1.48 |
| Brazil | 2.13 | 1.47 |
| Russia | 1.25 | 1.47 |
| Germany | 1.38 | 1.46 |
| Iran | 2.20 | 1.44 |
| France | 1.75 | 1.40 |
| Sri Lanka | 1.98 | 1.37 |
| Greece | 1.33 | 1.34 |
| Japan | 1.41 | 1.23 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1.71 | 1.20 |
| Italy | 1.18 | 1.20 |
| Colombia | 2.69 | 1.09 |
| China | 1.82 | 1.02 |
| Thailand | 1.88 | 0.98 |
| Singapore | 1.16 | 0.96 |
| South Korea | 1.72 | 0.75 |
You can watch it here: