ABSTRACT
This chapter aims at incorporating and summarizing the work that has already been done on estimating the population of the world and its major geographic areas at different times in history. The presentation is divided into following stages: ancient times, from the beginning of agriculture to middle of eighteenth century; more modern times, from the middle of the eighteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century; the second half of the twentieth century; and the twenty-first century. Around the beginning of present century the general picture of the growth curves began to take shape with which authors are familiar at present. Availability of estimates and projections has improved dramatically since the middle of the present century. The fertility assumptions are such that its decline in areas with replacement fertility would continue at a speed determined by past demographic trends, expected social and economic progress, ongoing population policies, and prevailing public attitudes towards population issues.
