ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the 18th century, Europe’s population was increasing at a rate less than 0.2% per year. The population increased more rapidly: in some countries the annual rate of growth reached 1%, which results in a doubling in 70 years. Projecting population growth is complicated because of the many variables involved, including fertility rates, sex ratios, life expectancies, age distribution, and other demographic factors. Tribe and Belyea remind that the United Nations’ 1954 medium projection of the world population for 1980 was actually overtaken in 1970. Historically, as world population grew the amount of land under cultivation expanded. The ability of the world to provide food was greatly increased when the “new” continents were opened to European settlement. However, the underdeveloped countries must rely on expanding the amount of foodland within their own borders and increasing productivity on that which is presently being used.
