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Most Densely Populated Cities in the World

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Most Densely Populated Cities in the World

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Americans living in big cities like New York or Los Angeles are familiar with the stress of overcrowded streets and sidewalks and the lack of parking. It's nearly impossible to find a spot to spread your beach blanket at Coney Island in the summer, and the long wait to cross the George Washington bridge connecting Manhattan with the borough of Fort Lee in New Jersey should be a crime.

But take a look at the crowds from another perspective: In the United States, we don't actually know anything about real overcrowding - not a single American city ranks among the top 50 most densely populated urban areas in the world. At the other end of the spectrum, these are the least densely populated places in the world.

A variety of factors help explain the high density of these cities, where it seems impossible to walk without bumping into pedestrians every second: more births than deaths, people moving to cities for jobs or forced off rural land by natural disasters, skyrocketing land prices, to name a few.

Population density is determined by the number of residents who live within a given land area - usually a mile or kilometer. According to the United Nations, as of 2016, about 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas. This is expected to grow to 60% by 2030, with one in three people living in cosmopolises with at least 500,000 residents - maybe in some of the world's 33 megacities.

In time for the World Population Day, marked every year on July 11 to raise awareness about urgent population issues, 24/7 Tempo identified the most densely populated cities in the world, using data from CityMayors Statistics, a global source for urban statistics.
American health: 50. Tokyo/Yokohama, Japan Average life expectancy in the US has been declining for 3 consecutive years
* Population density: 12,296 per square mile

* Population: 33,200,000

* Square miles: 2,700 miles
49. Porto Alegre, Brazil
Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and people flock to the city since it is the country's political and business center. In addition to the many workers who call the region home, there is a thriving student population, thanks to more than a dozen internationally ranked universities. Young people move to Tokyo to further their education, and stay for the available internships and jobs. Despite the crowds, the quality of life earns high marks for safety, public transportation, leisure activities and culture.

* Population density: 12,439 per square mile

* Population: 2,800,000

* Square miles: 225 miles
48. Barcelona, Spain
Porto Alegre, the capital of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, is one of four Brazilian cities among the 50 most densely populated metro areas. It is one of the nation's top regions for commerce and industry, as well as education and finance. As the name suggests, it has a busy port, plus jobs in tech, agriculture, manufacturing and more.

* Population density: 12,579 per square mile

* Population: 3,900,000

* Square miles: 310 miles
47. Moscow, Russia
Barcelona isn't too far behind Madrid when it comes to Spanish cities with the greatest population density. The capital of Catalonia is a beloved destination for tourists, with an estimated 30 million-plus visitors taking to Barcelona's beaches, streets and cultural sites in 2017. Though the out-of-towners pump billions of euros into the local economy, some residents, including elected officials, are declaring a strong preference for refugees over tourists, noting that migrants become part of the community, while short-term visitors destabilize it.

* Population density: 12,649 per square mile

* Population: 10,500,000

* Square miles: 830 miles
46. Buenos Aires, Argentina
The largest country on Earth by area, Russia's overall population density is a mere 23 people per square mile when you take all of that vast space into consideration. But the headcount density is radically different in the crush of the capital city, where more than 12,000 people share each square mile. Moscow is the northern-most megacity on the planet, and also the coldest. It has one of Europe's largest economies, and low living costs compared to other major cities.

* Population density: 12,801 per square mile

* Population: 11,200,000

* Square miles: 875 miles
45. Sapporo, Japan
Argentina's capital city is among the world's busiest ports; its varied economy includes government, commerce, industry, technology and culture. Agriculture, including grain exports, is among the leading businesses, with the Buenos Aires province being one of the top 10 wheat producers on Earth; the world's largest livestock market is located in the capital city.

* Population density: 12,981 per square mile

* Population: 2,075,000

* Square miles: 160 miles
44. Tel Aviv, Israel
Even though there's not much elbow room around Sapporo, the megapolis shows high potential for renewable energy development. One of three Japanese areas among the 50 most densely populated places on Earth, Sapporo is the capital of the Hokkaido prefecture. It has a thriving international port, well-regarded universities and research institutes, IT industry, and a cool factor due to its recognition as the first Asian city chosen as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of media and arts.

* Population density: 13,150 per square mile

* Population: 2,300,000

* Square miles: 175 miles
43. London, UK
The second largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv is the country's top destination for new immigrants from the United States, Africa, Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere. While some gravitate to the city for religious reasons or for asylum, others are attracted by the booming economy and business opportunities. Tel Aviv leads the world in the number of per capita startups, and has the highest gross domestic product investment in research and development.

* Population density: 13,210 per square mile

* Population: 8,278,000

* Square miles: 627 miles
42. Madrid, Spain
More than 300 languages are spoken by students in London, the capital city of England, where foreign-born migrants make up a sizable chunk of the population. However, the U.K. also has a high rate of internal migration, with London a revolving door of people arriving to take advantage of business opportunities, jobs, high salaries and the seductive lure of the big city. Others leave the metropolis to raise families or in search of a lower cost of living.

* Population density: 13,430 per square mile

* Population: 4,900,000

* Square miles: 365 miles
41. Ankara, Turkey
The largest city in Spain as well as its capital, Madrid is among the most densely populated metropolitan areas in Europe. Besides being known for its sports teams, cultural institutions, history and architecture, the city is among Europe's biggest financial centers, a hub of international business and commerce, as well as Spain's main manufacturing center. Most of the nation's wealthiest neighborhoods are located in the capital city.

* Population density: 13,772 per square mile

* Population: 3,100,000

* Square miles: 225 miles
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More than half of Turkey's borders are coastal, but the landlocked Ankara is its capital. It ranks second to Istanbul in size and industrial importance. Government is the biggest business, followed by manufacturing of everything from food products to construction materials and tractors. Ankara recently opened the largest hospital in Europe, with more than 3,600 beds, 12,000 employees, and eight divisions specializing in various types of medicine.

* Population density: 13,953 per square mile

* Population: 3,685,000
39. Guadalajara, Mexico
* Square miles: 264 miles

With a written history going back more than three millennia, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. The Greek capital continues to be the heart of the country's political, cultural, financial and economic life. The ancient city was recently rated highly on a list of cheap European vacations, cited for its antiquities, museums and charming neighborhoods for dining and shopping.

* Population density: 15,210 per square mile

* Population: 3,500,000
38. Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto, Japan
* Square miles: 230 miles

One of three Mexican cities among the top 50 most densely populated areas in the world, Guadalajara is the capital and the largest urban area in the state of Jalisco. It has gained a reputation as the Silicon Valley of Mexico, with a sizable talent pool of coders, engineers and programmers, along with startups and venture capital. Besides that, Guadalajara is known for its tequila and mariachi bands.

* Population density: 16,592 per square mile

* Population: 16,425,000
37. Bangkok, Thailand
* Square miles: 990 miles

Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto comprise the most densely populated region in Japan; each is the capital of its prefecture, and the combined area is known as the Kansai region. The major industries include manufacturing, distribution, finance and high tech. Attractions such as temples, castles, shopping, and dining abound in the region.

* Population density: 16,668 per square mile

* Population: 6,500,000
36. Monterrey, Mexico
* Square miles: 390 miles

Thailand's capital as well as its most densely populated city, Bangkok is the country's center of government, finance and industry. While the majority of the residents are of Thai ethnicity, the city has a variety of districts with Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Arab populations. While numerous sites give Bangkok high marks for quality of life, citing affordable cost of living, vibrant culture, good education and job opportunities. On the down side, its air pollution is among the worst on Earth.

* Population density: 17,303 per square mile

* Population: 3,200,000
35. Khartoum, Sudan
* Square miles: 185 miles

Monterrey is the capital of the Mexican state of Nuevo León, which has the nation's strongest economy. Construction and manufacturing surged in the state in 2018, and foreign direct investment (FDI) increased 127% over the previous year. The local unemployment rate hovers around 3.5%. But Monterrey isn't all work and no play - the city currently features a lively nightlife, plus outdoor activities and cultural institutions, and the World Cup is on the schedule for 2024.

* Population density: 17,770 per square mile

* Population: 4,000,000
34. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Square miles: 225 miles

Khartoum is the capital of Sudan. Political unrest is rampant in this northeastern African nation. Last spring, the military ousted autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir, and since then, Khartoum has been the site of often-violent demonstrations, with at least 11 people killed during June 30 protests this summer. American travelers are urged to stay away from the area because of terrorism and civil unrest.

* Population density: 17,704 per square mile

* Population: 10,800,000
33. Dalian, China
* Square miles: 610 miles

Though capital cities are often a country's most densely populated area, that's not the case in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro regularly attracts attention for special events such as the recent Copa America tournament and the annual carnival celebration, believed to be the biggest in the world. Though tourism plays an important role in the city's economy, oil, agriculture, banking, fishing and finance are all major industries as well.

* Population density: 18,310 per square mile

* Population: 2,750,000
32. Istanbul, Turkey
* Square miles: 150 miles

All eyes were on Dalian at the start of July, as the northeastern China city hosted the 2019 World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, or Summer Davos Forum. This is the seventh time the forum has been held in Dalian since 2007. The forum, which typically draws about 2,000 participants from around the world, has elevated the city's profile internationally, and spurred infrastructure development, including new roads and building reconstruction. Dalian aims to increase its importance as an international trading center.

* Population density: 19,991 per square mile

* Population: 9,000,000
31. Recife, Brazil
* Square miles: 450 miles

Not only is Istanbul the most densely populated city in Turkey, it is also the largest transcontinental city in the world, with its well-packed footprint landing in both Europe and Asia. The city, which is known for having some of the worst traffic in the world, is looking to the sky: It's currently building the world's largest airport. In recent years, Istanbul has become a destination for hundreds of thousands of Syrians, with Turkey ranking as the country taking in the most refugees worldwide.

* Population density: 20,837 per square mile

* Population: 3,025,000
Heavyweight fight: 30. Lahore, Pakistan Amazon, Microsoft wage war over $10 billion opportunity with the Pentagon
* Square miles: 145 miles

With two ports, a thriving IT industry, agriculture and manufacturing, Recife is the major business and economic powerhouse of northeastern Brazil. The capital of the state of Pernambuco, the city is the second largest medical center in the country. With hundreds of hospitals and clinics, thousands of beds, and the latest medical technology, it serves patients across a large area. Unfortunately, Recife also has a high crime rate, including homicides, earning it a place on the list of most dangerous cities in the world as well.

* Population density: 21,236 per square mile
29. Singapore
* Population: 5,100,000

* Square miles: 240 miles

The capital of the Punjab province, the second largest province by area, Lahore is Pakistan's second most populous city, with less than half the population density of the nation's capital city, Karachi. Punjabi, Urdu and English are the most commonly spoken languages in Lahore. The metropolis is the nation's engineering hub, producing cars, heavy machinery, steel, chemicals and more. Industry, traffic, crop burning and solid waste disposal all contribute to making this regional capital one of the world's most polluted cities.

* Population density: 21,628 per square mile
28. Santiago, Chile
* Population: 4,000,000

* Square miles: 185 miles

Often referred to as an economic tiger, Singapore, an island city-state, boasts a high gross domestic product per capita, low unemployment, and thriving electronics and pharmaceutical industries. The city often has superlatives linked with its name: It's among the most expensive city in the world (it's a three-way tie with Paris and Hong Kong), the world's most competitive economy, and - perhaps surprisingly, in such a high-rise environment - the city with the most trees, to name just a few of its attributes.

* Population density: 21,683 per square mile
27. Mexico City, Mexico
* Population: 5,425,000

* Square miles: 250 miles

On a clear day, you have a good view of the Andes Mountains from Santiago, Chile's capital city. The fourth most densely populated city in South America is also home to the continent's tallest building, the Gran Torre Santiago, standing almost 1,000 feet high. The city has the country's greatest concentration of industry, which includes clothing, shoe and textile manufacturing; banking and a stock exchange; and mining and metallurgy.

* Population density: 21,750 per square mile
26. St Petersburg, Russia
* Population: 17,400,000

* Square miles: 800 miles

Mexico City, situated more 7,300 feet above sea level, is North America's highest capital city, as well as its most densely populated metropolitan area. It is also the world's largest Spanish-speaking city, and one of the largest financial centers on the continent. Mexico City has a large immigrant and expatriate population from the around the globe, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Warm weather, good food and a lower cost of living are among the attractions.

* Population density: 22,069 per square mile
25. São Paulo, Brazil
* Population: 5,300,000

* Square miles: 240 miles

Located just below the Arctic Circle in the far northwest, St. Petersburg served as the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two centuries, until Moscow took over the honors in 1918. St. Petersburg remains a huge and important city 100 years post the Bolshevik revolution, and its historical district was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1990. In addition to its major Baltic Sea port, the city is known as a Russian cultural center teeming with theaters, concert halls, palaces and museums, and architectural wonders. The Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines is a unique venue, featuring vending machines and games that were the Soviet equivalent of Pac-Man, with an ideological component.

* Population density: 23,294 per square mile
24. Hyderabad, India
* Population: 17,700,000

* Square miles: 760 miles

São Paulo is Brazil's most densely populated area, one of the most crowded metro areas in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world's largest Portuguese-speaking city. The capital of the state of the same name, São Paulo is the financial capital of Brazil. It is also a major export center, dealing in products such as soybean, coffee, raw sugar and corn.

* Population density: 23,545 per square mile
23. Shenyang, China
* Population: 5,300,000

* Square miles: 225 miles

In a 2018 report, Hyderabad was credited with having the highest gross domestic product growth among 20 cities in emerging Asia-Pacific nations. The city, which is the capital of the state of Telangana, was rated second among nine Indian cities for employment growth rate over two years. For the fourth straight year, Hyderabad was named India's top city for standard of living.

* Population density: 24,013 per square mile
22. Baghdad, Iraq
* Population: 4,200,000

* Square miles: 175 miles

This northeastern Chinese industrial city is located a little more than 300 miles from the North Korea border. The capital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang's main products include cars and auto parts, construction materials, chemicals, steel and agricultural products. Unlike Northeast China's other provincial capital cities, Shenyang's population has grown in recent years, with the increase attributed to job seekers, increased college enrollment and more families having second children.

* Population density: 23,901 per square mile
21. Cairo, Egypt
* Population: 5,500,000

* Square miles: 230 miles

Following the defeat of the Islamic State last year, Baghdad residents reported that life was starting to feel somewhat safe and normal. People who had fled during more than a decade of war and upheaval began returning to their hometown, the capital of Iraq. The economy in Iraq had been picking up in recent months.

* Population density: 24,400 per square mile
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* Population: 12,200,000

* Square miles: 500 miles

Cairo is among the most densely populated cities in Africa, with its ongoing growth attributed to the disparity between the annual birth rate (30 births per 1,000 people) and death rate (7 deaths per 1,000 people). Egypt's capital city has such a perennial housing shortage that for decades residents have occupied every viable bit of space, including among the above-ground tombs in the el-Arafa necropolis, also known as the City of the Dead.
19. Bangalore, India
* Population density: 24,500 per square mile

* Population: 4,900,000

* Square miles: 200 miles

Ho Chi Minh City's population is more than double the population of Hanoi, Vietnam's capital and the next largest city. Migrants are attracted to the city for job opportunities in manufacturing, business and tourism, and by the per capita gross domestic product, which is twice as high as the national average in 2016. The country is investing in infrastructure improvements, such as Ho Chi Minh's metro rapid transit network, to help Vietnam preserve its status as one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations.
18. Tianjin, China
* Population density: 26,191 per square mile

* Population: 5,400,000

* Square miles: 206 miles

Bangalore is one of the world's least expensive cities. Nevertheless, it's standard of living was rated among the best in India in a recent report, which may explain why much of the population growth in Bangalore is due to migration from other Indian states. The capital of the state of Karnataka, Bangalore is home to many tech companies, earning it the nickname of the Silicon Valley of India.
17. Jakarta, Indonesia
* Population density: 27,158 per square mile

* Population: 4,750,000

* Square miles: 175 miles

China's largest coastal city, Tianjin has the biggest port in the northern part of the country. Besides being a major transport and shipping hub, the city is also a manufacturing center, producing cars, textiles, metalwork and chemicals. Tianjin is China's fourth most densely populated city, with growth expected to continue over the next decade.
16. Tehran, Iran
* Population density: 27,138 per square mile

* Population: 14,250,000

* Square miles: 525 miles

Employment opportunities and a high standard of living are among the factors causing people from across Indonesia to migrate to the capital city of Jakarta. About half of the population is thought to have actually been born in the city. The growth, which is predicted to continue, has brought problems, including the worst air pollution in Southeast Asia. Auto emissions and coal-fired power plants are among the main sources of the hazardous air quality.
15. Manila, Philippines
* Population density: 27,372 per square mile

* Population: 7,250,000

* Square miles: 265 miles

Migrants are behind the population growth in Tehran. Most of the newcomers to the capital of Iran come from other cities within the country. However, reverse migration could be on the upswing, with residents becoming concerned about environmental problems and fewer economic opportunities. Though Tehran is an old and interesting city, Iran ranks high on the list of countries the U.S. government doesn't want you to visit, citing a high risk of kidnapping, arrest and detention.
14. Kinshasa, DRC
* Population density: 27,307 per square mile

* Population: 14,750,000

* Square miles: 540 miles

Based on employment growth and gross domestic production per capita growth between 2014 and 2016, Manila has a solid place on the list of top-performing metro areas, according to a study published in 2018. The densely populated city had employment growth of 5.7%, and GDP per capita of 5.5%, landing it among the 10 top performers on Earth. While the solid financial outlook may contribute to growth, Manila could become a destination for dedicated shoppers: The Philippine capital is the site of the biggest Ikea store in the world, which is set to open in 2020.
13. New Delhi, India
* Population density: 27,612 per square mile

* Population: 5,000,000

* Square miles: 181 miles

Migration from rural areas, high fertility rates, and widening of the city's boundaries have contributed to the burgeoning population in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With a life expectancy of just over 50 years, millions of people facing food insecurity, and 85% of the population believing their government is corrupt, the DRC is considered one of the world's most miserable places to life.
12. Beijing, China
* Population density: 28,600 per square mile

* Population: 14,300,000

* Square miles: 500 miles

There's always a trade-off: New Delhi is one of the least expensive cities in the world, but it also has some of the worst air quality. Improved infrastructure, education and standard of living have attracted people from all over the country to India's capital. Technology, banking, transportation and government are the biggest employers in this densely populated metro area.
11. Lima, Peru
* Population density: 29,827 per square mile

* Population: 8,614,000

* Square miles: 289 miles

Population growth in the Beijing megalopolis comes from a variety of sources, including migrants moving to the nation's capital in search of opportunity, and the easing of restrictions limiting families to only one child. One of the oldest capital cities in the world, Beijing's urban problems include air pollution, dealing with domestic waste, and traffic congestion.
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* Population density: 30,419 per square mile

* Population: 7,000,000

* Square miles: 230 miles
9. Bogota, Colombia
The densely populated Lima is the financial and industrial hub and capital city of Peru. Fishing and mining (gold, copper, zinc and lead) are among the region's main businesses. Manufacturing and tourism are other revenue generators. Lima will be in the spotlight this summer as it hosts the 2019 Pan American Games.

* Population density: 34,718 per square mile

* Population: 10,000,000

* Square miles: 288 miles
8. Chennai, India
For more than two decades, Shanghai has been among the fastest growing urban areas in the world. Migration is behind much of the population expansion, with people from other regions of China flocking to the area. Shanghai is the world's busiest container port; major industries include financial services, tech, wholesale and retail, real estate, transportation, construction, and manufacturing.

* Population density: 35,000 per square mile

* Population: 7,000,000

* Square miles: 200 miles
7. Taipei, Taiwan
Located at more than 8,000 feet above sea level, Bogota is among the highest capital cities on Earth. The country's center of government and industry, Bogota is aiming to become one of the greenest cities on the continent. A member of the World Green Building Council for the past decade, Bogota has tightened its building codes, made a priority of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving sustainability.

* Population density: 37,223 per square mile

* Population: 5,950,000

* Square miles: 160 miles

The capital of Tamil Nadu state, Chennai is a governmental, industrial and cultural center in southern India. Much of the growth in the megalopolis is from migrants moving from rural areas in the state in search of jobs, though Chennai is also a destination for people from throughout the nation. In recent weeks the region has faced a water shortage, as four of the largest reservoirs are virtually dry from lack of rain.
6. Seoul/Incheon, South Korea
* Population density: 39,263 per square mile

* Population: 5,700,000

* Square miles: 145 miles

Though there's no doubt that Taipei is among the most densely populated places on Earth, there's some concern that the headcount may actually begin to drop. A low birth rate and aging population are fueling fears of a future dwindling workforce and decline in productivity that could slow technical innovation and take a toll on the economy.
5. Shenzhen, China
Taiwan is the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, and in June, Taipei was the scene of Asia's largest gay pride parade.

* Population density: 43,208 per square mile

* Population: 17,500,000

* Square miles: 405 miles
4. Lagos, Nigeria
Low birth rates have caused Seoul's population growth to level off somewhat. But there's not likely to be much room to roam in South Korea's capital for the foreseeable future. The city's population density is about twice that of New York City and four times higher than that of Los Angeles. The region has the distinction of having one of the best-run airports in the world, Incheon International.

* Population density: 44,464 per square mile

* Population: 8,000,000

* Square miles: 180 miles
3. Karachi, Pakistan
There are a lot of "mosts" associated with Shenzhen. Though not a capital city, it is the most densely populated region in China. It is also the location of four of the world's tallest buildings. As of 2017, Shenzhen ranked 6th among cities with the most electric cars on the road. And as of 2017, Shenzhen-based Huawei was 49th on the list of the most valuable brands in the world.

* Population density: 47,027 per square mile

* Population: 13,400,000

* Square miles: 285 miles
2. Kolkata, India
The one-time capital of Nigeria, Lagos is the most densely populated region in Africa. Among the reasons for the overcrowding is the influx of job seekers from rural areas, and refugees from countries like Togo and Cameroon fleeing to the mega-city. The cost of living in Lagos is among the lowest in the world, but the country as a whole has some of the poorest health statistics, including a life expectancy of just over 53 years of age and an infant mortality rate of almost 67 per 1,000 live births.

* Population density: 49,000 per square mile

* Population: 9,800,000

* Square miles: 200 miles
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The former capital of Pakistan, Karachi is the most crowded city in the Muslim world. Migrants and refugees from Bangladesh, Burma, Uganda, Iran and Afghanistan have moved into the area. Migrant workers from other regions of Pakistan add to the density. Though Karachi ranks among the least expensive cities for expatriates, it's also rated one of the least livable, with a drop in standard of living likely, according to a 2018 study.

* Population density: 61,945 per square mile

* Population: 12,700,000
24/7 Wall Street is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
* Square miles: 205 miles

There's a lot going on in the planet's second most crowded megalopolis. In addition to being a financial and manufacturing center, Kolkata has a major port and thriving tech sector. Nevertheless, problems with severe air pollution, poverty and infrastructure need to be addressed in the capital city of West Bengal state.

* Population density: 76,790 per square mile

* Population: 14,350,000

* Square miles: 187 miles

Tens of thousands of people find themselves packed into each square mile of the most crowded urban area on Earth. Regardless of the overall dearth of space, the good life is alive and well in Mumbai, which has one of the greatest populations of mega-millionaires. From traffic congestion to huge landfills to breathtaking architecture, Bollywood movies and urban parkland, Mumbai is a city of contrasts and surprises.

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75,000 people per square mile? These are the most densely populated cities in the world

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American rush hour suddenly doesn't seem so bad.

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The number of people per km² of land area

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Did you know the first unofficial Population Day happened on July 11th, 1987? Back then, it was also known as the Day of Five Billion as this was the approximate date on which the world's population reached five billion people!

The world's gotten a lot bigger since then, so we've decided to share some surprising facts to about the global population to keep you up to date:

1. The world population is growing rapidly.

The world population increases by about 83 million people every year. Right now, there are about 7.6 billion people around the world. That means there are over half a billion more people in the world than when we reached the 7 billion mark in October 2011 - less than 7 years ago.

If populations continue to increase as they are now, there will be about 10 billion people worldwide by 2050.

2. The three most populous nations in the world will change.

For half a century, China has been the most populated country in the world. This will change, as India is expected to overtake China by 2022 . Additionally, the United States will lose its third-place spot to Nigeria.

3. Of the 10 most populous countries, Nigeria has the fastest growing population.

Nigeria is currently the 7th most populated country in the world, but that will quickly change. Nigeria has a growth rate of 2.6% a year - the highest among the 10 most populous countries in the world. By 2050, its population will more than double from 195 million to an estimated 410 million.

4. 9 countries will account for half of the population growth.

As the world inches closer to 10 billion people, some nations will play a larger part than others. India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uganda, and Indonesia will contribute to the most population growth from now until 2050.

5. The African population is growing, while the European population is shrinking.

The amount of young people currently living in Africa will make a substantial difference to the world's population. The number of people who will reach adulthood in the coming years ensures that the continent will experience significant growth by 2050.

Europe will experience the opposite. All European countries are experiencing fertility below what's needed to maintain current population levels, meaning that not enough babies are being born to replace the generation before them. European countries are expected to get smaller, if they aren't already.

6. is currently has the most dense population in the world.

The independent city-state of Monaco may be the second smallest sovereign state in the world, but it's population is far from small. Despite only covering .78 square miles, it has a population of 38,897. This evens out to about 26,105 people per square kilometer.

7. Overall fertility is declining, despite increased fertility in some parts of the world.

The global birth rate has fallen since the 1960s, and is expected to keep falling over the next few decades. Although the overall rate is declining, fertilities differs greatly across the world. For example, Africa experiences about 4.7 births per woman, while Europe experiences 1.6.

8. Life expectancy is increasing and becoming more universal.

In 2000, the global life expectancy was 67 years old. Fifteen years later, that number grew to 71. Life expectancy is expected to continue growing, reaching 77 years old by 2050.

As global life expectancy increases, there will also be less variation between different places in the world. Life expectancy in Africa was 60 years old in 2015, compared to 79 years in Europe. However, life expectancy is growing faster in Africa, meaning that the difference will become less drastic by 2050.

9. Millennials make up about 27% of the world's population.

Millennials, roughly defined as people born between 1981 and 1997, make up a large portion of the world population. In fact, about 2 billion people worldwide are part of this generation. About 71% of millennials live in Asia or sub-Saharan Africa.

10. Niger currently has the youngest population of any country in the world.

A nation's median age means that half the population is older than that age, while the other half is younger. In Niger, the median age is 15.3 years old. While Niger has the youngest median age in the world, a majority of African nations have median ages below 20.
Which population fact surprised you the most? Leave a comment below!

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DYK these 10 surprising world population facts?

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Did you know the first unofficial Population Day happened on July 11th, 1987? Back then, it was also known as the Day of Five Billion as this was the approximate date on which the world's population reached five billion people!

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While the developed world argues over the ethics of issues like birth control and family planning, the poor continue to experience unprecedented population growth.

From 2017 to 2050, it is expected that half of the world's population growth will be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uganda and Indonesia (ordered by their expected contribution to total growth). ¹

More than three-quarters of the world's population lives in Africa (17 percent) and Asia (60 percent). ¹

Africa's share of the global population is projected to reach 26 percent in 2050 and could reach 40 percent by 2100. ¹

In all plausible scenarios of future trends, Africa will play a central role in shaping the size and distribution of the world's population over the next few decades. ¹

Indigenous peoples account for around 5 percent of the world's population but 15 percent of people living in poverty. ²

Amongst the 10 most populous countries in the world, Nigeria's population, currently the seventh largest in the world, is growing the most rapidly. The population of Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the United States shortly before 2050, at which point it would become the third largest country in the world. ¹

China (1.41 billion) and India (1.34 billion) remain the two most populous countries of the world, representing 19 and 18 percent of the world's population, respectively. In 2024, both countries are expected to have roughly 1.44 billion people.¹

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While the developed world argues over the ethics of issues like birth control and family planning, the poor continue to experience unprecedented population growth. From 2017 to 2050, it is expected that half of the world's population growth will be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uganda and Indonesia (ordered by their expected contribution to total growth).

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The Impact of Deforestation on Carbon Storage

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Deforestation is responsible for 12% of all global GHG emissions and is a key obstacle to decelerating rising global temperatures.

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Domino Effects of Tropical Deforestation

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Domino Effects of Tropical Deforestation

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The Domino Effects of Tropical Deforestation

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), we lose over 10 million hectares of forests every single year. That's the same as losing an area the size of New York's Central Park every 18 minutes.

In this graphic from our sponsor LEAF Coalition, we take a look at the drastic knock-on effects of tropical deforestation: from significant greenhouse gas emissions and irreversible loss in biodiversity to the impact on the lives of Indigenous Peoples.

Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector

When looking at how greenhouse gas emissions break down by sector, the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector is responsible for nearly 15% of global emissions.

Moreover, global models estimate that net emissions from land use and land use change are mostly as a result of deforestation.

From 2002-2015, a handful of commodities were responsible for 55% of all agriculture-linked deforestation. These include:

And according to Forest Trends, half of global tropical deforestation occurs illegally as a result of this demand.

Impacts on Nature and People

The damage from tropical deforestation also extends to loss of biodiversity which has significant impacts on Indigenous Peoples and the animal population.

50,000: Estimated number of species that become extinct each year due to deforestation.

60M: Indigenous Peoples worldwide who completely depend on forests for their livelihoods.

Protecting tropical forests is vital to mitigate these critical losses. Does your business want to do more to fight climate change?

Join the LEAF Coalition, the world's largest public-private initiative to halve tropical deforestation.

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The Domino Effects of Tropical Deforestation

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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), we lose over 10 million hectares of forests every single year. That's the same as losing an area the size of New York's Central Park every 18 minutes.

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Mapped: Countries With the Highest Flood Risk

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Recent floods in Pakistan have affected more than 33 million people. Where is the risk of flooding highest around the world?

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An Arctic without ice, no more koala bears, and extreme droughts? As Earth Day approaches, take a moment to learn how - and our climate change threatens our country planet.
1. FACT: If everyone in the world lived the way people do in the U.S., it would take five Earths to provide enough resources for everyone
Just five countries - including the United States - create more than 50% of the global CO2 emissions. In 2010, the world produced nearly 34 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning, cement production, and gas flaring. Fifty-eight developed and developing countries have set carbon reduction pledges for 2020; however, it's projected that those pledges will still result in the planet becoming 3℃ warmer.
Source: National Wildlife Foundation

2. FACT: 2014 was the world's hottest year on record
It's not your imagination. The average global temperature for land and ocean surfaces was the highest among all years since record keeping began in 1880. The average temperature surpassed the previous records in 2005 and 2010 by 0.07 degrees. The record warmth was spread around the world, with hot spots including the western United States, eastern Russia into western Alaska, parts of the interior of South America, and most of Europe stretching into northern Africa.

3. FACT: Average global sea level is expected to rise 7 - 23 inches before the end of this century
This is especially dangerous because half of the world's population lives within 37 miles of the sea, and three-quarters of all large cities are located on the coast, according to the United Nations. And sea levels are rising three- to four-times faster along parts of the United States' East Coast than they are globally.

In response, President Barack Obama recently issued an executive order directing federal agencies - as well as state and local governments drawing on federal funds - to adopt stricter building and siting standards to reflect scientific projections that future flooding will be more frequent and intense due to climate change.

4. FACT: More than a million species face potential extinction as a result of disappearing habitats, changing ecosystems, and acidifying oceans
Here today, gone tomorrow? The losers will likely be the species that are highly specialized in what they eat or where they live, especially those whose habitats disappear completely. That might include species such as koalas, which depend mainly on eucalyptus for survival, and the many animal and plant species that live only on isolated mountaintops.
5. FACT: The Arctic region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040
In less than 30 years, the polar bear playground in the Arctic may no longer have any ice. Researchers have been using computer models to simulate climate change, specifically to analyze how global warming could impact sea ice. According to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, if greenhouse gasses continue to get pumped into the atmosphere at the current rate, the majority of the Arctic basin will be ice-free in September by 2040.
6. FACT: 99.84% of the land in the state of California is suffering from drought
Two-thirds of the state is experiencing "extreme drought," and 2013 was the driest year ever recorded in the state of California. The historic drought has been devastating for California's crops. And the extreme weather - which many scientists say is caused by climate change - is not limited to heat. This past winter was so cold that the Atlantic Ocean froze off the coast of Nantucket.
7. FACT: From 1979 to 2003, excessive heat exposure contributed to more than 8,000 premature deaths in the United States
This figure exceeds the number of mortalities resulting from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. So it's not just the Earth's health that could be at stake.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, warmer average temperatures will likely lead to hotter days and more frequent and longer heat waves. This could increase the number of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Increases in the frequency or severity of extreme weather events such as storms could increase the risk of dangerous flooding, high winds, and other direct threats to people and property. Warmer temperatures could increase the concentrations of unhealthy air and water pollutants. Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme events could enhance the spread of some diseases.

Obama recently declared April 6 to 12 as National Public Health Week, noting that vulnerable communities are most at risk from the harmful effects of climate change, including children, the elderly, sick and poor. "We've got to do better in protecting our vulnerable families," Obama said.

This Saturday, Global Citizen and the Earth Day Network are taking over Washington, D.C., bringing you music from Usher, No Doubt, Fall Out Boy, and more. Tune in to msnbc for live coverage. We're tackling climate change and extreme poverty ... all in one incredible show.

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An Arctic without ice, no more koala bears, and extreme droughts? As Earth Day approaches, take a moment to learn how - and our climate change threatens our country planet. 1.

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What are some ways we can lessen the impact that our population and settlements are having on our environment?

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What are some ways we can lessen the impact that our population and settlements are having on our environment?

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Tells you the world's population in real time.

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World Population: Past, Present, and Future

(move and expand the bar at the bottom of the chart to navigate through time)

The chart above illustrates how world population has changed throughout history. View the full tabulated data.

At the dawn of agriculture, about 8000 B.C., the population of the world was approximately 5 million. Over the 8,000-year period up to 1 A.D. it grew to 200 million (some estimate 300 million or even 600, suggesting how imprecise population estimates of early historical periods can be), with a growth rate of under 0.05% per year.

A tremendous change occurred with the industrial revolution: whereas it had taken all of human history until around 1800 for world population to reach one billion, the second billion was achieved in only 130 years (1930), the third billion in 30 years (1960), the fourth billion in 15 years (1974), and the fifth billion in only 13 years (1987).

During the 20th century alone, the population in the world has grown from 1.65 billion to 6 billion.

In 1970, there were roughly half as many people in the world as there are now.

Because of declining growth rates, it will now take over 200 years to double again.

Wonder how big was the world's population when you were born?
Check out this simple wizard or this more elaborated one to find out.

Growth Rate

Population in the world is growing at a rate of around 0.91% per year in 2024 (up from 0.88% in 2023, and down from 0.98% in 2020, and 1.06% in 2019). The current population increase is estimated at around 73 million people per year.

Annual growth rate reached its peak in the late 1960s, when it was at around 2%. The rate of increase has nearly halved since then, and will continue to decline in the coming years.

World population will therefore continue to grow in the 21st century, but at a much slower rate compared to the recent past. World population has doubled (100% increase) in 40 years from 1959 (3 billion) to 1999 (6 billion). It is now estimated that it will increase by 50% in the subsequent 40 years, to reach 9 billion by 2037.

The latest world population projections indicate that world population will reach 10 billion persons in the year 2057 and 10.4 billion in 2100.

World Population (2024 and historical)
View the complete population historical table
World Population Forecast (2025-2050)
View population projections for all years (up to 2100)
World Population Milestones

10 Billion (2058)

The United Nations projects world population will reach 10 billion in the year 2058.

9 Billion (2037)

World population is expected to reach 9 billion in the year 2037.

8.1 Billion (current)

The current world population is 8,109,479,367 as of Thursday, May 16, 2024 according to the most recent United Nations estimates elaborated by Worldometer. The term "World Population" refers to the human population (the total number of humans currently living) of the world.

8 Billion (2022)

World population has reached 8 billion people on November 15, 2022 according to the United Nations. The U.S. Census Bureau International Database (IDB) estimates instead that the world population hit 8 billion on September 26, 2023. In their note, they added: " Emphasis on the word estimates. There are many sources of uncertainty in estimating the global population, and it's unlikely this population milestone was reached on that exact date" [ source]

7 Billion (2010)

According to the latest revision by the United Nations (released in 2022), world population reached 7 Billion in late 2010 (after being previously estimated as occurring on October 31, 2011). The U.S. Census Bureau made a different estimate, for which the 7 billion mark was reached on March 12, 2012.

6 Billion (1998)

According to the latest revision by the United Nations (released in 2022), the 6 billion figure was reached towards the end of 1998 (this was previously estimated as occurring on October 12, 1999, celebrated as the Day of 6 Billion). According to the U.S. Census Bureau instead, the six billion milestone was reached on July 22, 1999, at about 3:49 AM GMT. Yet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the date and time of when 6 billion was reached will probably change because the already uncertain estimates are constantly being updated.

Previous Milestones

Summary Table

1 - 1804 ( 1803 years): 0.2 to 1 bil.

1804 - 2022 ( 218 years): from 1 billion to 8 billion

World Population by Region

World Population Density (people/km²)

Population density map of the world showing not only countries but also many subdivisions (regions, states, provinces). See also: World Map

Courtesy of
Junuxx at en.wikipedia [ CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

World Population by Religion

According to a recent study (based on the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion) by The Pew Forum, there are:

2,173,180,000 Christians (31% of world population), of which 50% are Catholic, 37% Protestant, 12% Orthodox, and 1% other.

1,598,510,000 Muslims (23%), of which 87-90% are Sunnis, 10-13% Shia.

1,126,500,000 No Religion affiliation (16%): atheists, agnostics and people who do not identify with any particular religion. One-in-five people (20%) in the United States are religiously unaffiliated.

1,033,080,000 Hindus (15%), the overwhelming majority (94%) of which live in India.

487,540,000 Buddhists (7%), of which half live in China.

405,120,000 Folk Religionists (6%): faiths that are closely associated with a particular group of people, ethnicity or tribe.

58,110,000 Other Religions (1%): Baha'i faith, Taoism, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism and many others.

13,850,000 Jews (0.2%), four-fifths of which live in two countries: United States (41%) and Israel (41%).

World Population by Country

How many people have ever lived on earth?

It was written during the 1970s that 75% of the people who had ever been born were alive at that moment. This was false.

Assuming that we start counting from about 50,000 B.C., the time when modern Homo sapiens appeared on the earth (and not from 700,000 B.C. when the ancestors of Homo sapiens appeared, or several million years ago when hominids were present), taking into account that all population data are a rough estimate, and assuming a constant growth rate applied to each period up to modern times, it has been estimated that a total of approximately 106 billion people have been born since the dawn of the human species, making the population currently alive roughly 6% of all people who have ever lived on planet Earth.

Others have estimated the number of human beings who have ever lived to be anywhere from 45 billion to 125 billion, with most estimates falling into the range of 90 to 110 billion humans.

World Population clock: sources and methodology

The world population counter displayed on Worldometer takes into consideration data from two major sources: the United Nations and the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. The United Nations Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs every two years calculates, updates, and publishes estimates of total population in its World Population Prospects series. These population estimates and projections provide the standard and consistent set of population figures that are used throughout the United Nations system.

The World Population Prospect: the 2022 Revision provides the most recent data available (released in July of 2022). Estimates and projected world population and country specific populations are given from 1950 through 2100 and are released every two years. Worldometer, as it is common practice, utilizes the medium fertility estimates.

Data underlying the population estimates are national and sub national census data and data on births, deaths, and migrants available from national sources and publications, as well as from questionnaires. For all countries, census and registration data are evaluated and, if necessary, adjusted for incompleteness by the Population Division as part of its preparations of the official United Nations population estimates and projections.

2. The International Programs Center at the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division also develops estimates and projections based on analysis of available data (based on census, survey, and administrative information) on population, fertility, mortality, and migration for each country or area of the world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, world population reached 7 billion on March 12, 2012.

For most countries adjustment of the data is necessary to correct for errors, omissions, and inconsistencies in the data. Finally, since most recent data for a single country is often two years old on average, the current world population figure is necessarily a projection of past data based on assumed trends. As new data become available, assumptions and data are reevaluated and past conclusions and current figures may be modified.

For information about how these estimates and projections are made by the U.S. Census Bureau, see the Population Estimates and Projections Methodology.

Why Worldometer's Population Clock is the most accurate

The above world population clock is based on the latest estimates released in July of 2022 by the United Nations. It will show the same number wherever you are in the world and whatever time you set on your PC.

Visitors around the world visiting a PC clock based counter, instead, will see different numbers depending on where they are located. This is the case with other world population clocks - such as the one hosted on a United Nations website, reaching 8 billion in 24 different instances (one per hour) on November 15, 2022, when each local time zone reached 12:10:08. Similarly, in 2011, the clocks on a UN website and on National Geographic - showed 7 billion whenever the visitor's locally set PC clocks reached 4:21:10 AM on October 31, 2011.

Obviously, the UN data is based on estimates and can't be 100% accurate, so in all honesty nobody can possibly say with any degree of certainty on which day world population reached 7 billion (or any other exact number), let alone at what time. But once an estimate is made (based on the best data and analysis available), the world population clock should be showing the same number at any given time anywhere around the world.

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World Population Clock: 8.1 Billion People (LIVE, 2024) - Worldometer

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How many people are there in the world? World population has reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022 according to the United Nations. World population live counter with data sheets, graphs, maps, and census data regarding the current, historical, and future world population figures, estimates, growth rates, densities and demographics

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Interactive maps on the rise of the sea levels

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Interactive maps on the rise of the sea levels

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By now, everyone knows: the climate is changing, sea levels are rising, and the crises are likely to happen sooner than expected. Still, it's one thing to know, and another thing to really see these potential disasters. Luckily (or unluckily), there's no lack of tools to help the apathetic develop a visceral sense of what could be at stake.

First, Information Is Beautiful has used data from NASA, Sea Level Explorer, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to create the aptly named " When Sea Levels Attack," which shows how many years are left until major cities are underwater.

Next, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers a tool that helps visualize "community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise" up to 10 feet above average high tides. You can zoom in to a particular area, run different scenarios, and see what happens when the water goes one feet, two feet, 10 feet higher than normal.

The Mapping Choices tool from Climate Central does essentially the same thing with an extra level of guilt because it shows you two scenarios and asks which sea level we will lock in.

The EarthTime sea level rise tool goes one step further and shows not only different major world cities, but scenarios under the Paris Accord and you can watch the changes happen before your eyes.

And then there's a new map that lets users peer 60 years into the future of North American cities. San Jose becomes like a city in LA County, and North Carolina will seem more Florida.

If all that has you down, The New York Times has created an interactive that shows what different countries are doing to cut carbon emissions and how adopting each of those policies could be helpful for the US. It's a much more hopeful view.

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Use these tools to help visualize the horror of rising sea levels

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By now, everyone knows: the climate is changing, sea levels are rising, and the crises are likely to happen sooner than expected. Still, it's one thing to know, and another thing to really see these potential disasters. Luckily (or unluckily), there's no lack of tools to help the apathetic develop a visceral sense of what could be at stake.

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Megacities that will be underwater if the sea levels continue to rise.

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Megacities that will be underwater if the sea levels continue to rise.

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If, as suggested by a comprehensive new review in the journal Science, 2°C of global warming will lock in at least 20 feet (6 meters) of eventual sea level rise, what would 2°C of warming (3.6°F) mean for the future and heritage of global nations and cities?

It would mean a world we don't recognize, one losing more than 444,000 square miles of land, where more than 375 million people live today. China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is home to by far the largest share of those people, nearly a quarter. The U.S., second biggest emitter, ranks seventh on the exposure list - but is the most affected nation, by total population, outside of heavily threatened Asia. Many large and small nations face much more daunting challenges from the perspective of the percentage of their populations on land at risk.
Slideshow
Among global megacities, more than a quarter of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Calcutta populations live below the 6-meter line. The top 20 affected cities by total population are all in Asia.

These findings and the maps and tables on this page come from Climate Central's own analysis, using essentially the same underlying data and methods behind our first global assessment of sea level rise exposure ( New York Times; Climate Central). We improved on that earlier work by using a higher resolution global ocean model output from Mark Merrifield at the University of Hawaii, and we extended our analysis to assess megacities based on boundaries from Natural Earth 2.0.0.

For the brief study here, we used a water level of 20 feet (more precisely, 6 meters) above local high tide lines (Mean Higher High Water levels) globally. Actual sea level rise will almost certainly vary by several feet from region to region, depending upon multiple factors; but this level of detail is difficult to project and was not included in the Science paper that inspired this project.

Comparative assessment using high quality elevation and population data for the U.S. suggests that the coarser and less accurate global data available for this global analysis may actually underestimate global population exposure by roughly a factor of two. The global elevation dataset used here also does not extend past 60 degrees north latitude, meaning that national assessments did not include the sparsely populated northern reaches of Russia, Canada, Scandinavia and more.

Top 20 Megacities Below the Line

MEGACITY

POPULATION AFFECTED

% OF CURRENT POPULATION

1. Shanghai, China
2. Hong Kong, China
3. Taizhou, China
4. Mumbai, India
5. Calcutta, India
6. Tianjin, China
7. Jakarta, Indonesia
8. Nantong, China
9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
10. Osaka, Japan
11. Chittagong, Bangladesh
12. Tokya, Japan
13. Hanoi, Vietnam
14. Huaiyin, China
15. Shantou, China
16. Nam Dinh, Vietnam
17. Jiagmen, China
18. Khulna, Bangledesh
19. Barisal, Bangladesh
20. Lianyungang, China

11,500,000
6,200,000
6,100,000
5,900,000
5,800,000
5,100,000
4,900,000
4,700,000
4,400,000
4,100,000
4,000,000
3,800,000
3,800,000
3,400,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
3,000,000
2,900,000
2,800,000
2,800,000

39%
28%
67%
27%
25%
12%
11%
72%
44%
25%
44%
15%
30%
43%
23%
74%
51%
22%
40%
92%

We have also posted a more detailed analysis and zip code-searchable interactive map of potential impacts in the U.S., where the higher quality data available make these easily possible.

Sea levels are already rising and posing challenges today. The twentieth foot of sea level rise could possibly arrive as soon as 2200; or it might take many more centuries for that total to accrue. Accordingly, the population exposure numbers in Climate Central's analysis on this page do not represent fully materialized threats in the immediate moment. Under any circumstances, coastal populations and economies will reshape themselves over time. But the accumulating research on how sensitive sea level is to warming over the long run - and the amount of humanity in the restless ocean's way - point to unrelenting centuries of defense, retreat, and a reimagining of life along our coasts.
The Climate Central research, mapping and data visualization associated with this page have received support from the Kresge Foundation, National Science Foundation grant ARC 1203415, and additional sources.

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Coastal Nations, Megacities Face 20 Feet of Sea Rise

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If, as suggested by a comprehensive new review in the journal Science, 2°C of global warming will lock in at least 20 feet (6 meters) of eventual sea level rise, what would 2°C of warming (3.6°F) mean for the future and heritage of global nations and cities?

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This has links to various videos, and articles! Check it out!

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Human Impacts on the Environment | National Geographic Society

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Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water. These negative impacts can affect human behavior and can prompt mass migrations or battles over clean water.

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For three weeks in March, a one-kilometre stretch of Burlington's King Road goes eerily quiet. Barricades and signposts lead drivers through an alternate route, though there's no obvious reason for the detour - no parades, protests, or construction in sight. The road carries travellers only after the sun has set, when the city settles in for the night.

That's when the Jefferson salamander climbs out of its burrow - typically a former rodent hole - where it has spent the winter months keeping warm below the frost line. It's headed, along with dozens of its kin, to the ponds across King Road, where the salamanders gather to breed.

In Canada, the small and elusive brownish-grey amphibians are found only in southern Ontario, along the Niagara Escarpment. Because they're so hard to find, no one can say exactly how many are left - but the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario has classified them as endangered.

The annual mixer is vital to the salamanders' survival, but to reach the woodland ponds where the magic happens, they often have to cross treacherous roads full of cars and trucks, in a sort of real-life game of Frogger.

That's why, in 2012, Burlington's city council voted unanimously to close King Road (after trying with limited success to convince drivers to take a voluntary detour), erecting signs and barricades to give the salamanders a fighting chance at crossing unharmed.

Brenda Van Ryswyk, an ecologist with Conservation Halton, is part of a team that advises the city on dealing with salamander crossings. Every year, they look for dead salamanders along King Road, to measure the success of the closure. They haven't found a single one since 2012 (in previous years, flattened salamanders were a common sight).

Burlington's mayor, Rick Goldring, says he hasn't received any complaints from residents since the closures began and notes that there haven't been any calls to revisit the policy, either. "Every year the citizens of Burlington, through social media, state how proud they are of the city to do this," he says. King Road runs through a suburban neighbourhood, and there are no houses along the closed-down stretch. The detour itself adds just two or three minutes of travel time.

Jim Bogart, a researcher at the University of Guelph, has been studying the Jefferson salamander since 1977. While road closures in general can help amphibians avoid an untimely death, Bogart says, they are especially useful for Jefferson salamanders, which cross in big groups as soon as the weather is warm and wet enough. But later in the year, he adds, the salamanders must cross back over to find food and shelter - putting them at risk once more. (During this second crossing, the salamanders move in smaller groups at their own pace, making it less feasible and less useful to shut the road down.)

Bogart says that in some areas, tunnels or culverts can provide amphibians with a safe, permanent crossing, though they tend not to work when the salamanders can't see from one end to the other. Wildlife overpasses like those in Alberta and British Columbia don't work for amphibians, since they prefer to stay low to the ground.

In 2002, York Region integrated five tunnels into the Bayview extension, a major north-south artery in Toronto, so that all amphibians - including the Jefferson salamander - could cross safely to their breeding grounds. On either side, drift fencing is meant to guide them toward the tunnels.

But in Burlington, closing King Road was the best option. "There's a cliff on one side and then it drops off on the other side," Van Ryswyk says. "It's really a tough topography, so the underpass just wouldn't work."

Crossing the road is just one of the dangers the salamanders face. "My number-one concern has been habitat loss," she says. "We want to protect ponds from alteration. If a landowner buys property with a vernal pool, sometimes they don't realize the richness and benefit of that pond - they see it as a puddle that needs to be fixed."

Van Ryswyk says these spring ponds contain plenty of vegetation and make ideal breeding grounds for the Jefferson salamanders, which lay their eggs on sticks and plants in the water - but that might not be appealing to landowners who want well-manicured lawns.

"It's hard to protect a cryptic animal that people don't see," Bogart says, noting that when developers drain ponds, salamander larvae (which live underwater) can't survive. And landowners who do keep their garden ponds don't help matters when they throw larvae-eating fish into them.

Bogart has also extensively studied unisexual salamanders - a group of all-female specimens that are visually near-identical to their Jeffersonian counterparts. They use sperm from male Jeffersons to stimulate egg production, but only sometimes use the Jeffersons' genes to produce larvae (instead, they usually just produce clones of themselves). It's unclear whether they pose a competitive threat to female Jeffersons, but they do make those females harder to study, since Jeffersons live alongside groups of unisexuals, who often outnumber them.

That gives Bogart plenty to ponder in his lab. He's interested not just in conserving the at-risk Jefferson salamander, but also the unisexuals that depend on their genes. Yet as the Jefferson loses ground, and as development prevents the salamanders from moving to new ponds, those unisexuals will disappear too. Bogart wants to determine the best way to protect the little creatures, but he knows there's a long road ahead: "These things live for about 30 years. It might take some time before we really know what's happening."

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Why did the Jefferson salamander cross the road? | TVO.org

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For three weeks in March, a one-kilometre stretch of Burlington's King Road goes eerily quiet. Barricades and signposts lead drivers through an alternate route, though there's no obvious reason for the detour - no parades, protests, or construction in sight. The road carries travellers only after the sun has set, when the city settles in for the night.

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"If present trends continue, scientists warn that within a few decades, at least half of all plant and animal species on Earth will be extinct"

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"If present trends continue, scientists warn that within a few decades, at least half of all plant and animal species on Earth will be extinct"

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How does sea levels rising impact animals 

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How does sea levels rising impact animals 

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video.nationalgeographic.com/video/floods

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/

https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/145/video-22-year-sea-level-rise/

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What are some of the impacts overpopulation has on the environment?

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What are some of the impacts overpopulation has on the environment?

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Rising sea levels: Why? What is the impact they will have on human settlements?

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Rising sea levels: Why? What is the impact they will have on human settlements?

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Human overpopulation is among the most pressing environmental issues, silently aggravating the forces behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, the sixth mass extinction, intensive farming practices and the consumption of finite natura

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Our growing population

We humans are remarkable creatures. From our humble beginnings in small pockets of Africa, we have evolved over millennia to colonise almost every corner of our planet. We are clever, resilient and adaptable―perhaps a little too adaptable.

In 2015 the world population is more than 7.3 billion people. That's more than seven billion three hundred million bodies that need to be fed, clothed, kept warm and ideally, nurtured and educated. More than 7.3 billion individuals who, while busy consuming resources, are also producing vast quantities of waste, and our numbers continue to grow. The United Nations estimates that the world population will reach 9.2 billion by 2050.

For most of our existence the human population has grown very slowly, kept in check by disease, climate fluctuations and other social factors. It took until 1804 for us to reach 1 billion people. Since then, continuing improvements in nutrition, medicine and technology have seen our population increase rapidly.

The impact of so many humans on the environment takes two major forms:

consumption of resources such as land, food, water, air, fossil fuels and minerals

waste products as a result of consumption such as air and water pollutants, toxic materials and greenhouse gases

More than just numbers

Many people worry that unchecked population growth will eventually cause an environmental catastrophe. This is an understandable fear, and a quick look at the circumstantial evidence certainly shows that as our population has increased, the health of our environment has decreased. The impact of so many people on the planet has resulted in some scientists coining a new term to describe our time-the Anthropocene epoch. Unlike previous geological epochs, where various geological and climate processes defined the time periods, the proposed Anthropecene period is named for the dominant influence humans and their activities are having on the environment. In essence, humans are a new global geophysical force.

However, while population size is part of the problem, the issue is bigger and more complex than just counting bodies.

There are many factors at play. Essentially, it is what is happening within those populations-their distribution (density, migration patterns and urbanisation), their composition (age, sex and income levels) and, most importantly, their consumption patterns-that are of equal, if not more importance, than just numbers.

Focusing solely on population number obscures the multifaceted relationship between us humans and our environment, and makes it easier for us to lay the blame at the feet of others, such as those in developing countries, rather than looking at how our own behaviour may be negatively affecting the planet.

Let's take a closer look at the issues.

Population size

It's no surprise that as the world population continues to grow, the limits of essential global resources such as potable water, fertile land, forests and fisheries are becoming more obvious. You don't have to be a maths whizz to work out that, on the whole, more people use more resources and create more waste.

But how many people is too many? How many of us can Earth realistically support?

Influenced by the work of Thomas Malthus, ' carrying capacity GLOSSARY carrying capacity The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported in an area. Carrying capacity is usually limited by components of the environment (e.g. food, habitat, resources). ' can be defined as the maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Debate about the actual human carrying capacity of Earth dates back hundreds of years. The range of estimates is enormous, fluctuating from 500 million people to more than one trillion. Scientists disagree not only on the final number, but more importantly about the best and most accurate way of determining that number-hence the huge variability.

How can this be? Whether we have 500 million people or one trillion, we still have only one planet, which has a finite level of resources. The answer comes back to resource consumption. People around the world consume resources differently and unevenly. An average middle-class American consumes 3.3 times the subsistence level GLOSSARY subsistence level A standard of living (or wage) that provides only the bare necessities of life. of food and almost 250 times the subsistence level of clean water. So if everyone on Earth lived like a middle class American, then the planet might have a carrying capacity of around 2 billion. However, if people only consumed what they actually needed, then the Earth could potentially support a much higher figure.

But we need to consider not just quantity but also quality-Earth might be able to theoretically support over one trillion people, but what would their quality of life be like? Would they be scraping by on the bare minimum of allocated resources, or would they have the opportunity to lead an enjoyable and full life?

More importantly, could these trillion people cooperate on the scale required, or might some groups seek to use a disproportionate fraction of resources? If so, might other groups challenge that inequality, including through the use of violence?

These are questions that are yet to be answered.

Population distribution

The ways in which populations are spread across Earth has an effect on the environment. Developing countries tend to have higher birth rates due to poverty and lower access to family planning and education, while developed countries have lower birth rates. In 2015, 80 per cent of the world's population live in less-developed nations. These faster-growing populations can add pressure to local environments.

Globally, in almost every country, humans are also becoming more urbanised. In 1960 less than one third of the world's population lived in cities. By 2014, that figure was 54 per cent, with a projected rise to 66 per cent by 2050.

While many enthusiasts for centralisation and urbanisation argue this allows for resources to be used more efficiently, in developing countries this mass movement of people heading towards the cities in search of employment and opportunity often outstrips the pace of development, leading to slums, poor (if any) environmental regulation, and higher levels of centralised pollution. Even in developed nations, more people are moving to the cities than ever before. The pressure placed on growing cities and their resources such as water, energy and food due to continuing growth includes pollution from additional cars, heaters and other modern luxuries, which can cause a range of localised environmental problems.

Humans have always moved around the world. However, government policies, conflict or environmental crises can enhance these migrations, often causing short or long-term environmental damage. For example, since 2011 conditions in the Middle East have seen population transfer (also known as unplanned migration) result in several million refugees fleeing countries including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The sudden development of often huge refugee camps can affect water supplies, cause land damage (such as felling of trees for fuel) or pollute environments (lack of sewerage systems).

Population composition

The composition of a population can also affect the surrounding environment. At present, the global population has both the largest proportion of young people (under 24) and the largest percentage of elderly people in history. As young people are more likely to migrate, this leads to intensified urban environmental concerns, as listed above.

Life expectancy has increased by approximately 20 years since 1960. While this is a triumph for mankind, and certainly a good thing for the individual, from the planet's point of view it is just another body that is continuing to consume resources and produce waste for around 40 per cent longer than in the past.

Ageing populations are another element to the multi-faceted implications of demographic population change, and pose challenges of their own. For example between 1970 and 2006, Japan's proportion of people over 65 grew from 7 per cent to more than 20 per cent of its population. This has huge implications on the workforce, as well as government spending on pensions and health care.

Population income is also an important consideration. The uneven distribution of income results in pressure on the environment from both the lowest and highest income levels. In order to simply survive, many of the world's poorest people partake in unsustainable levels of resource use, for example burning rubbish, tyres or plastics for fuel. They may also be forced to deplete scarce natural resources, such as forests or animal populations, to feed their families. On the other end of the spectrum, those with the highest incomes consume disproportionately large levels of resources through the cars they drive, the homes they live in and the lifestyle choices they make.

On a country-wide level, economic development and environmental damage are also linked. The least developed nations tend to have lower levels of industrial activity, resulting in lower levels of environmental damage. The most developed countries have found ways of improving technology and energy efficiency to reduce their environmental impact while retaining high levels of production. It is the countries in between-those that are developing and experiencing intense resource consumption (which may be driven by demand from developed countries)-that are often the location of the most environmental damage.

Population consumption

While poverty and environmental degradation are closely interrelated, it is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, primarily in developed nations, that are of even greater concern.

It's not often that those in developed countries stop and consider our own levels of consumption. For many, particularly in industrialised countries, the consumption of goods and resources is just a part of our lives and culture, promoted not only by advertisers but also by governments wanting to continually grow their economy. Culturally, it is considered a normal part of life to shop, buy and consume, to continually strive to own a bigger home or a faster car, all frequently promoted as signs of success. It may be fine to participate in consumer culture and to value material possessions, but in excess it is harming both the planet and our emotional wellbeing.

The environmental impact of all this consumption is huge. The mass production of goods, many of them unnecessary for a comfortable life, is using large amounts of energy, creating excess pollution, and generating huge amounts of waste.

To complicate matters, environmental impacts of high levels of consumption are not confined to the local area or even country. For example, the use of fossil fuels for energy (to drive our bigger cars, heat and cool our bigger houses) has an impact on global CO ₂ levels and resulting environmental effects. Similarly, richer countries are also able to rely on resource and/or waste-intensive imports being produced in poorer countries. This enables them to enjoy the products without having to deal with the immediate impacts of the factories or pollution that went in to creating them.

On a global scale, not all humans are equally responsible for environmental harm. Consumption patterns and resource use are very high in some parts of the world, while in others-often in countries with far more people-they are low, and the basic needs of whole populations are not being met. A study undertaken in 2009 showed that the countries with the fastest population growth also had the slowest increases in carbon emissions. The reverse was also true-for example the population of North America grew only 4 per cent between 1980 and 2005, while its carbon emissions grew by 14 per cent.

Individuals living in developed countries have, in general, a much bigger ecological footprint GLOSSARY ecological footprint The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources. than those living in the developing world. The ecological footprint is a standardised measure of how much productive land and water is needed to produce the resources that are consumed, and to absorb the wastes produced by a person or group of people.

Today humanity uses the equivalent of 1.5 planets to provide the resources we use and absorb our waste. This means it now takes the Earth one year and six months to regenerate what we use in a year. Global Footprint Network

When Australian consumption is viewed from a global perspective, we leave an exceptionally large 'ecological footprint'-one of the largest in the world. While the average global footprint is 2.7 global hectares, in 2014 Australia's ecological footprint was calculated at 6.7 global hectares per person (this large number is mostly due to our carbon emissions). To put this in perspective, if the rest of world lived like we do in Australia, we would need the equivalent of 3.6 Earths to meet the demand.

Similarly, an American has an ecological footprint almost 9 times larger than an Indian-so while the population of India far exceeds that of the United States, in terms of environmental damage, it is the American consumption of resources that is causing the higher level of damage to the planet.

What is the solution?

How do we solve the delicate problem of population growth and environmental limitations? Joel Cohen, a mathematician and author characterised potential solutions in the following way:

1. A bigger pie: Technical innovation

This theory looks to innovation and technology as Earth's saviour, not only to extend the planet's human carrying capacity, but to also improve the quality of life for each individual. Advances in food production technologies such as agriculture, water purification and genetic engineering may help to feed the masses, while moving away from fossil fuels to renewable power sources such as wind and solar will go some way to reducing climate change.

'Economic decoupling' refers to the ability of an economy to grow without corresponding increases in environmental pressure. In 2014 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report titled ' Decoupling 2', which explored the possibilities and opportunities of technology and innovation to accelerate decoupling, and an analysis of how far technical innovation can go.

Funding and research should be a high priority in these areas, but we must accept that technology can only do so much, and is only part of the solution.

2. Fewer forks: Education and policy change

This theory is based on demographic transition, effectively finding ways to slow or stop population growth resulting in fewer people fighting for resources or 'slices' of pie.

Birth rates naturally decline when populations are given access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, education for boys and girls beyond the primary level is encouraged and made available, and women are empowered to participate in social and political life. Continuing to support programs and policies in these areas should see a corresponding drop in birth rates. Similarly, as the incomes of individuals in developing countries increase, there is a corresponding decrease in birth rates. This is another incentive for richer countries to help their poorer neighbours reach their development potential.

Providing a health, educational or financial incentive has also proven to be effective in combating some population issues. For example, paying money to people with two or fewer children or allowing free education for families with a single child has been trialled with some success. However, there are debates about incentive programs (such as paying women in India to undergo sterilisation). Opponents question whether accepting these incentives is really is a choice, or whether the recipient has been coerced into it through community pressure or financial desperation.

Fewer forks can also cover another complicated area-the option of seriously controlling population growth by force. China has done so in the past and attracted both high praise and severe humanitarian criticism. This is a morally-, economically- and politically-charged topic, to which there is no easy answer.

3. Better manners: Less is more

The better manners approach seeks to educate people about their actions and the consequences of those actions, leading to a change in behaviour. This relates not only to individuals but also governments. Individuals across the world, but particularly in developed countries, need to reassess their consumption patterns. Numerous studies have shown that more 'stuff' doesn't make people happier anyway. We need to step back and re-examine what is important and actively find ways to reduce the amount of resources we consume. Taking shorter showers, saying no to single-use plastics, buying less, recycling our waste and reviewing our mode and frequency of travel may seem trivial, but if millions around the world begin to do it as well, the difference will begin to add up.

Governments too need to instigate shifts in environmental policy to protect and enhance natural areas, reduce CO ₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy sources and focus on conservation as priorities.

Developing countries should be supported by their more developed neighbours to reach their development goals in sustainable, practical ways.

In reality, there is no single, easy solution. All three options must be part of a sustainable future.

Where to from here?

Population is an issue that cannot be ignored. While we can all do our bit to reduce our own global footprint, the combined impact of billions of other footprints will continue to add up. There are many who believe that if we do not find ways of limiting the numbers of people on Earth ourselves, then Earth itself will eventually find ways of doing it for us.

Interestingly, despite population increase being such a serious issue, the United Nations has held only three world conferences on population and development (in 1945, 1974 and 1994).

However, governments around the world are beginning to recognise the seriousness and importance of the situation, and are taking steps to reduce the environmental impacts of increasing populations and consumption such as through pollution reduction targets for air, soil and water pollutants. The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, scheduled for December 2015, is one example; however any international policies need to be backed up by workable solutions at the individual, local and regional level.

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Population and environment: a global challenge

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We humans are remarkable creatures. From our humble beginnings in small pockets of Africa, we have evolved over millennia to colonise almost every corner of our planet. We are clever, resilient and adaptable―perhaps a little too adaptable. In 2015 the world population is more than 7.3 billion people.

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"ISRO has capabilities to build geostationary satellites for air quality monitoring"

Pawan Gupta,Pawan Gupta, Lead ARSET Air Quality Team and Research Scientist, Universities Space Research Association at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Washington DC and his research expertise are in 'Satellite remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols and its applications to air quality monitoring and climate change research'. (http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/pawan.gupta)

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Daily News Update on Climate Change, Weather Forecasting in India

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"ISRO has capabilities to build geostationary satellites for air quality monitoring" Pawan Gupta,Pawan Gupta, Lead ARSET Air Quality Team and Research Scientist, Universities Space Research Association at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Washington DC and his research expertise are in 'Satellite remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols and its applications to air quality monitoring and climate change research'.

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Global average sea-level could rise by nearly 8 feet by 2100 and 50 feet by 2300 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high and humanity proves unlucky, according to a review of sea-level change and projections by Rutgers and other scientists.

Since the start of the century, global average sea-level has risen by about 0.2 feet. Under moderate emissions, central estimates of global average sea-level from different analyses range from 1.4 to 2.8 more feet by 2100, 2.8 to 5.4 more feet by 2150 and 6 to 14 feet by 2300, according to the study, published in Annual Review of Environment and Resources.

And with 11 percent of the world's 7.6 billion people living in areas less than 33 feet above sea level, rising seas pose a major risk to coastal populations, economies, infrastructure and ecosystems around the world, the study says.

Sea-level rise varies over location and time, and scientists have developed a range of methods to reconstruct past changes and project future ones. But despite the differing approaches, a clear story is emerging regarding the coming decades: From 2000 to 2050, global average sea-level will most likely rise about 6 to 10 inches, but is extremely unlikely to rise by more than 18 inches. Beyond 2050, projections are more sensitive to changes in greenhouse gas emissions and to the approaches for projecting sea-level change.

"There's much that's known about past and future sea-level change, and much that is uncertain. But uncertainty isn't a reason to ignore the challenge," said study co-author Robert E. Kopp, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and director of Rutgers' Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. "Carefully characterizing what's known and what's uncertain is crucial to managing the risks sea-level rise poses to coasts around the world."

Scientists used case studies from Atlantic City, New Jersey, and from Singapore to discuss how current methods for reconstructing past sea-level change can constrain future global and local projections. They also discussed approaches for using scientific sea-level projections and how accurate projections can lead to new sea-level research questions.

A large portion of sea-level rise in the 20th century, including most of the global rise since 1975, is tied to human-caused global warming, the study says.

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global warming; climate; environmental awareness; floods; el nino and la nina; geography; environmental issues; oceanography

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Global sea level could rise 50 feet by 2300, study says: Characterizing what's known and what's uncertain is key to managing coastal risk

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Global average sea-level could rise by nearly 8 feet by 2100 and 50 feet by 2300 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high and humanity proves unlucky, according to a review of sea-level change and projections by Rutgers and other scientists. Since the start of the century, global average sea-level has risen by about 0.2 feet.

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Rick Wilking/Reuters

In light of the IPCC's dire report, substituting some personal convenience in the present could mean that much more hope for the planet's future.

A landmark report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Monday spelled out a grim planetary future in no uncertain terms. If greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere by as much as 1.5 degrees Celsius, the most dire effects of climate change will be unleashed. Coastlines will be submerged, droughts and wildfires exacerbated, coral reefs exterminated, severe food shortages and poverty deepened. And humanity has only a fast-closing 12-year window to make the changes necessary to avoid this fate.

Previously, the IPCC's work had focused on the effects of 2 degrees Celsius of warming, which scientists once considered the threshold for these nightmarish effects. But that half-degree would quite literally make a world of difference. Climate change will be much worse than the leading authorities thought. Mitigating the worst impacts will take unprecedented, coordinated global action-shutting down coal plants, passing a substantial carbon tax, restoring forests, and sharply cutting transportation emissions.

Such efforts would be akin to an "immediate, coordinated crash program of re-industrialization, involving every major country in the world," the science journalist David Roberts wrote on Twitter. "It would be like the US mobilizing for WWII, only across the globe, sustained for the rest of the century."

That would be ludicrously difficult. And visions of a dire climate future, described in what sound like inevitable terms, tend to have a paralyzing effect on individuals, who likely wonder what possible difference their choices might make. But the IPCC also makes clear that no action will make things far worse. And it describes critical areas where habits and individual decisions-"demand-side mitigation and behavioural changes," in the words of the IPCC report-can make an difference.

In developed nations like the United States, arguably the most important of these personal decisions involve transportation. Globally, transportation accounted for 28 percent of the world's energy demand and 23 percent of its carbon emissions in 2014. But in the U.S., emissions from transportation- the single largest carbon-producing economic sector in the U.S.-are on the rise, as gas prices fall and employment ticks up. Emissions from other sectors, meanwhile, are sharply declining.

According to the report, decarbonizing the transportation sector would require electrifying vehicle fleets, shifting mobility choices from low- to high-efficiency modes en masse, and transforming urban planning to curtail sprawl and make walking, biking, and transit use easier. Technology-focused measures, such as improving energy efficiency and switching fuel sources, figure most prominently in scientists' best roadmaps to mitigating transportation emissions. But structural and behavioral changes, namely "the switching of passengers and freight from less- to more-efficient travel modes (e.g., cars, trucks and airplanes to buses and trains)," will be critical, too, the report's second chapter states.

This report comes at a time when President Donald Trump is aggressively backpedaling on the (already insufficient) progress made by previous administrations to rein in carbon emissions, of which the U.S. is the world's second-largest producer. The Trump administration has scrapped Obama-era vehicle fuel standards and attempted to revive coal the coal industry by easing environmental regulations and hampering the growth of renewable energy. The White House also expanded plans for offshore drilling, opened up federal lands for extraction, and has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord.

In the U.S., it seems only enormous political pressure at the state and local level will press the policies required to approach the changes described by the IPCC report. Individual transportation choices will add up to them actually mattering. Those with the ability to decide whether to drive, walk, scoot, hail an Uber, take the bus, or book a flight are the critical agents in the mode shifts the IPCC describes. Switching to an electric vehicle can be good; even better is using an existing vehicle sparingly or going car-free. Scaling back personal vehicle mileage by 5,000 miles a year will save the planet more than a ton of carbon. Eliminating a single transatlantic flight can cut frequent fliers' carbon emissions by a quarter. In addition to cutting meat consumption, travel decisions like this are the most important carbon reductions individuals can make.

And, yes, this will require sacrifice-not only because people like cars and planes, but because Americans want to travel more, not less. Vehicle miles traveled crested 1.58 trillion in the first half of 2018, which was 5.2 billion miles more than the same period a year ago; airline travel is p rojected to double over the next two decades.

Even at the local level, where some of the most promising action of carbon emissions have emerged in the era of Trump, the arrows are not pointing in the right direction. Transit use is declining and new vehicle-based modes increasingly populate the roads. While the ride-hailing companies disrupting urban transportation networks promise to eliminate private car ownership, that won't be enough to balance their contributions to transportation emissions so long as the cheap rides they offer, at prices that compete with transit, expand the market for mobility in general.

The subtext of this report, after all, is clear enough. Humanity is not on the right trajectory to avoid a terrifying fate, despite decades of increasingly urgent warnings from scientists. But that does not mean it's time to give up, which appears to be the preferred strategy of the Trump administration. In an environmental impact statement reported on by the Washington Post last month, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials cited a predicted 3.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century, only to use that information to justify the president's decision to freeze fuel standards for vehicles built after 2020.

That kind of perverse logic guarantees climate catastrophe. Those lucky and wealthy enough to have free agency in the way they live must acknowledge the enormous choice before them: Actively substitute some personal convenience in the present for that much more hope for the planet's future.

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The Planet Can't Survive Our Transportation Habits

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In light of the IPCC's dire report, substituting some personal convenience in the present could mean that much more hope for the planet's future. A landmark report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Monday spelled out a grim planetary future in no uncertain terms. If greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere by as much as 1.5 degrees Celsius, the most dire effects of climate change will be unleashed.

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Rising seas: 'Florida is about to be wiped off the map'

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In an extract from her new book Rising, Elizabeth Rush explains the threat from sea-level rise, which, for millions of Americans, is about to get very real, very quickly

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Global sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has increased in recent decades. In 2014, global sea level was 2.6 inches above the 1993 average-the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present). Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one-eighth of an inch per year.

Higher sea levels mean that deadly and destructive storm surges push farther inland than they once did, which also means more frequent nuisance flooding. Disruptive and expensive, nuisance flooding is estimated to be from 300 percent to 900 percent more frequent within U.S. coastal communities than it was just 50 years ago.

The two major causes of global sea level rise are thermal expansion caused by warming of the ocean (since water expands as it warms) and increased melting of land-based ice, such as glaciers and ice sheets. The ocean is absorbing more than 90 percent of the increased atmospheric heat associated with emissions from human activity.

With continued ocean and atmospheric warming, sea levels will likely rise for many centuries at rates higher than that of the current century. In the United States, almost 40 percent of the population lives in relatively high-population-density coastal areas, where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. Globally, eight of the world's 10 largest cities are near a coast, according to the U.N. Atlas of the Oceans.

Sea level rise at specific locations may be more or less than the global average due to local factors such as land subsidence from natural processes and withdrawal of groundwater and fossil fuels, changes in regional ocean currents, and whether the land is still rebounding from the compressive weight of Ice Age glaciers. In urban settings, rising seas threaten infrastructure necessary for local jobs and regional industries. Roads, bridges, subways, water supplies, oil and gas wells, power plants, sewage treatment plants, landfills-virtually all human infrastructure-is at risk from sea level rise.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Global sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has increased in recent decades. In 2014, global sea level was 2.6 inches above the 1993 average-the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present). Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one-eighth of an inch per year.

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As humans continue to pour greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, oceans have tempered the effect. The world's seas have absorbed more than 90 percent of the heat from these gases, but it's taking a toll on our oceans: 2021 set a new record for ocean heating.

Rising seas is one of those climate change effects. Average sea levels have swelled over 8 inches (about 23 cm) since 1880, with about three of those inches gained in the last 25 years. Every year, the sea rises another .13 inches (3.2 mm.) Research published in February 2022 shows that sea level rise is accelerating and projected to rise by a foot by 2050.

That translates into as much sea level rise in the next 30 years as occurred over the last century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Rick Spinrad, the NOAA administrator, called the findings "historic," and warned that the projected rise will occur even if carbon emissions are drastically cut.

(How carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.)

In the United States, the most vulnerable populations live on the East and Gulf Coasts, where damaging flooding is predicted to occur 10 times more often in 2050 than it does today. The acceleration of sea level rise along these coasts is "unprecedented in at least 120 years," according to a study published in April 2023.

Here's what you need to know about the causes-and consequences-of sea level rise.

Causes of sea level rise

The change in sea levels is linked to three primary factors, all induced by ongoing global climate change:

Thermal expansion: When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over the past 25 years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.

Melting glaciers: Large ice formations such as mountain glaciers naturally melt a bit each summer. In the winter, snows, primarily from evaporated seawater, are generally sufficient to balance out the melting. Recently, though, persistently higher temperatures caused by global warming have led to greater-than-average summer melting as well as diminished snowfall due to later winters and earlier springs. That creates an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation, causing sea levels to rise.

Loss of Greenland and Antarctica's ice sheets: As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is causing the massive ice sheets that cover Greenland and Antarctica to melt more quickly. Scientists also believe that meltwater from above and seawater from below is seeping beneath Greenland's ice sheets, effectively lubricating ice streams and causing them to move more quickly into the sea. While melting in West Antarctica has drawn considerable focus from scientists, especially with the 2017 break in the Larsen C ice shelf, glaciers in East Antarctica are also showing signs of destabilizing.

Consequences

When sea levels rise as rapidly as they have been, even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats farther inland, it can cause destructive erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for fish, birds, and plants.

(Here's how warming oceans affects wildlife and storm systems.)

Higher sea levels are coinciding with more dangerous hurricanes and typhoons that move more slowly and drop more rain, contributing to more powerful storm surges that can strip away everything in their path. One study found that between 1963 and 2012, almost half of all deaths from Atlantic hurricanes were caused by storm surges.

Already, flooding in low-lying coastal areas is forcing people to migrate to higher ground, and millions more are vulnerable from flood risk and other climate change effects. The prospect of higher coastal water levels threatens basic services such as Internet access, since much of the underlying communications infrastructure lies in the path of rising seas.

Adapting to the threat

As a result of these risks, many coastal cities are already planning adaptation measures to cope with the long-term prospects of higher sea levels, often at considerable cost. Building seawalls, rethinking roads, and planting mangroves or other vegetation to absorb water are all being undertaken.

In Jakarta, a $40 billion project will aim to protect the city with an 80-foot-high seawall. Rotterdam, home to the Global Center on Adaptation, has offered a model to other cities seeking to combat flooding and land loss. The Dutch city has built barriers, drainage, and innovative architectural features such as a "water square" with temporary ponds.

Of course, communities vulnerable to rising seas can only go so far in holding back the tide. In the Marshall Islands, where rising sea levels are forcing a choice between relocating or building up the land, residents will need help from other nations if they decide to undertake the expensive latter option.

How high will it go?

Most predictions say the warming of the planet will continue and is likely to accelerate, causing the oceans to keep rising. This means hundreds of coastal cities face flooding. But forecasting how much and how soon seas will rise remains an area of ongoing research.

A special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we can expect the oceans to rise between 10 and 30 inches (26 to 77 centimeters) by 2100 with temperatures warming 1.5 °C. That's enough to seriously affect many of the cities along the U.S. East Coast. Another analysis based on NASA and European data skewed toward the higher end of that range, predicting a rise of 26 inches (65 centimeters) by the end of this century if the current trajectory continues.

If all the ice that currently exists on Earth in glaciers and sheets melted it would raise sea level by 216 feet. That could cause entire states and even some countries to disappear under the waves, from Florida to Bangladesh. That's not a scenario scientists think is likely, and it would probably take many centuries, but it could eventually happen if the world keeps burning fossil fuels indiscriminately.

In the meantime, scientists keep refining their models of sea-level changes. They also point out that the extent to which countries work together to limit release of more greenhouse gases may have a significant impact on how quickly seas rise, and how much.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on February 19, 2019. It has been updated with new data.

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Seas are predicted to rise a foot by 2050, regardless of how much global carbon emissions can be reduced. Why is this happening, and what can we do to adapt?