Elon Musk issues warning, says India’s population to drastically decrease by…, Pakistan’s population projected to….
Elon Musk does not need an introduction. Despite being the richest man in the world, the head of Tesla remains deeply concerned. But what exactly is causing him to worry? Recently, Musk has accused Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” for failing to thwart grooming gangs while he was director of public prosecutions (DPP). Now, the Tesla CEO has sparked renewed discussions on global population decline by retweeting a post from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley on X (previously Twitter).
Elon Musk issues warning, says India’s population to drastically decrease by…, Pakistan’s population projected to….
The post shared a graph showing projected population changes from 2018 to 2100 for major countries, with the caption: “Population collapse is humanity’s greatest threat… Elon Musk.” Musk responded simply with a “Yes,” emphasizing his ongoing concerns about the issue.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2025
The graph shared by Musk presents a concerning outlook. By 2100, India’s population is projected to drop by around 400 million, reducing it to just under 1.1 billion. China’s population is expected to decline even more sharply, decreasing by 731 million to about 731.9 million. On the other hand, Nigeria’s population is set to soar, reaching 790.1 million, surpassing China to become the world’s second-most populous country.
According to the media reports, for years, experts have acknowledged that the world is moving toward a population decline, though there remains debate about the pace of this trend and which countries will be most affected. Some of the significant factors driving this decline include lower fertility rates, emigration, and ageing populations. In many countries, the average number of children per woman has fallen below 2.1, the threshold necessary to maintain a stable population.
As per the Office for National Statistics, in 2023, the average number of children per woman in England and Wales dropped to 1.44, the lowest ever recorded. Globally, fertility rates have seen a dramatic decline, falling from an average of 5.3 children per woman in 1963 to less than half that figure today, as reported by the Daily Express.
A graph published in 2020 reveals a striking contrast in the future population trends of India and China. While both countries had populations of around 1.5 billion in 2018, their paths are expected to diverge sharply by 2100. India’s population is projected to decline to just under 1.1 billion, marking a reduction of approximately 400 million. On the other hand, China’s population is forecasted to experience a dramatic drop, falling to 731.9 million, a staggering decrease of 731 million. Consequently, Nigeria, with a projected population of 790.1 million, is expected to surpass China and become the world’s second most populous country by the century’s end.
A 2020 report by researchers at the University of Washington indicated that population decline, especially in China and India, could happen at a faster pace than previously expected. By 2100, countries currently experiencing population growth, like Indonesia and Pakistan, are expected to see modest declines, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia are projected to surpass them in population size by the end of the century.