The Climax of World Population Growth

Abstract

In subsequent history the twentieth century may be called either the century of world wars or the century of the population plague. In 1900 the world’s people numbered approximately 1.65 billion. Now, 70 years later, the number is almost twice as large and, by the end of the century, it may be almost four times as large. Correspondingly, the first two world wars involved more casualties than any wars before, and the third one—due any moment now—will doubtless top both of these.

This is a modified and expanded version of a paper first published in California Medicine,Vol. 113 (Nov. 1970), pp. 33–39.