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Original poster

Falling population

38 replies

TheArts · 02/02/2024 19:29

Is this actually a thing?
Is our population falling?
Really?
I don't think it is.
All I see everywhere I go is houses being built by their thousands all over beautiful greenbelt areas in our beautiful countryside with councils stating that we need thousands of extra houses for our growing population.
So surely our population is growing in this case, not falling. The erosion of our green areas is being sacrificed for our increasing population, that's what my local council told me when I petitioned against my local green areas being destroyed and concreted over.

OP posts:
Newsenmum · 02/02/2024 20:38

Gazelda · 02/02/2024 19:56

There is statistical evidence that the birth rate is dropping and that the population will start to reduce. People in older age will increase, while children and working aged people will be fewer, resulting in less tax being generated to pay for services.

Personally, I think it's a good thing. It's necessary for our planet. But governments across the world need to be planning for this, and I can't see that they are.

I suspect there are some very tough times ahead.

This first paragraph. An enormous older population and fewer working. And a care crisis. But like with the pandemic, nothing is planned for.

Karatema · 02/02/2024 20:36

The ONS predicts the birth rate will be 10.8 million births and 10.3 million deaths by 2036 so, no decrease in population.

Serencwtch · 02/02/2024 20:24

The birth rate is falling but the population is still increasing (just increasing slightly less)

The rate of increase is slowing

Hope that makes sense.

I think we will reach a point in the not too distant future where we will need to admit that we cant keep multiplying like we are. It's like a pyramid scheme to prop up the economy but eventually bust the environment etc

verdantverdure · 02/02/2024 20:18

The young aren't having babies, excess deaths are continuing due to the what the Tories have done to our National Health Service, and life expectancy is dropping.

However the Brexit Tory government is filling the gap with record high levels of immigration which they told Tory and Brexit voters they would reduce.

(Because they think Tory voters and Brexit voters are stupid and will keep voting for them anyway.)

Falling population
Watercolourpapier · 02/02/2024 20:13

I bet you live in a house that used to be green fields, or forests, or marshes.

NeelyOHara1 · 02/02/2024 20:11

Falling populations means falling consumption and as good as that might be for the environment, the economic system we seem stuck with requires continuing consumption in order to facilitate continuing profits. Instead of less is enough, more is more reigns supreme. Something has to give...

MermaidEyes · 02/02/2024 20:02

2dogsandabudgie · 02/02/2024 19:55

Of course it's not falling. It is predicted that by 2036 our population will be nearly 74 million and that by 2050 the whole world will be living on our tiny island.

Plenty of room for all 🤣

fonfusedm · 02/02/2024 20:00

We do have an ageing population eg more over 65s than under 15s

JamSandle · 02/02/2024 19:59

It has been for ages.

fonfusedm · 02/02/2024 19:59

I think natural population is falling & growth is forecast on immigration.

Snowdropsarecoming · 02/02/2024 19:58

The birth rate is falling but people are living for longer so there are more people alive at the same time.

Gazelda · 02/02/2024 19:56

There is statistical evidence that the birth rate is dropping and that the population will start to reduce. People in older age will increase, while children and working aged people will be fewer, resulting in less tax being generated to pay for services.

Personally, I think it's a good thing. It's necessary for our planet. But governments across the world need to be planning for this, and I can't see that they are.

I suspect there are some very tough times ahead.

2dogsandabudgie · 02/02/2024 19:55

Of course it's not falling. It is predicted that by 2036 our population will be nearly 74 million and that by 2050 the whole world will be living on our tiny island.