ABSTRACT
For international studies, this chapter addresses various questions about the rapid population growth. The questions are: What are the demographic projections? What political groups are touched by this growth; what countries will maintain power (political science)? What countries will be powerful in a world of 9 to 10 billion? Education has an impact on economic growth, demographic growth, and political growth, and is a key component to the development of human capital. The Population Reference Bureau estimates that by 2050 the global population will be 9,869,000,000. Global population projections are complicated. If fertility rates do not decline, then the situation in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in 2050 will be truly difficult, with hundreds of millions in grinding poverty. An increased population density would then mean declining healthcare. Women play a key role, and the empowerment of women is critical to a responsible healthy demography.
