#future #futurist #world #hope #life
This research [1] projects that Europe’s population will decline by 11.7%, or 53.0 million people, in few years time. While the working population will decline, the working-age population is expected to fall to 50% by 2100. Europe’s current population stands at 744 million people, while the EU population stands at 452 million people. China is also facing a 17% population decline. So, is this a global trend? However, China’s population is 1.41 billion, and India’s is around 1.4 billion. Africa’s population is 1.59 billion and is not declining. North America’s population is 617 million and is not currently declining. South America’s population is 441 million and is not declining. The UAE’s population is 11.57 million and is not declining. The Middle East’s population is 515 million and is not declining. Note these numbers are estimates, not exact statistics.
Why is the population declining in some regions of the world? What are the exact global statistics? Let’s wait for that too! The above statistics are tentative; Europe just published its stats; we need the whole world’s exact stats now.
What is the reason? Do today’s youth feel pressured by competition? There are issues that youth face. There is a world to look up to, and everyone wants to be like what’s shown in the media and what seniors do. Parenting is no longer the same; it’s now a policy-change topic, a task that needs to be shared. NO, it’s not a task; parenting is a feeling to be explored, a life to be lived, and a journey to be covered. Does today’s media portray parenting that way? But some EU leaders treat this as a policy-change topic, arguing that parenting time must be divided equally. But all this comes into focus when you consider it a load. It’s not a load; it’s a life to be lived. It’s a beautiful flower in our garden. See the smile on a child’s face when you feed them, and see the joy on your face then. Maybe the media is to blame! This is a feeling to be explored. Does the media show such things? It shows successful couples, but not successful parents who can work as well as raise children. When you can do so much at the office, you can raise a beautiful flower in your life, just one? The media needs to look at what it is making and teaching younger generations, subconsciously, without even saying it.
In earlier eras, parenting was about selfless love, and now youth don’t compare parenting to what their parents used to think. Previous generation’s ancestors used to have babies as if they were flowers in a garden; the more, the better. Something has happened now. The youth today do not think this way.
Today’s youth must face the fact that the future will not be the same as the present. Now, with automation, many jobs will be taken off the shelves. Youth will have more time; if the media portrays it right, the younger generation will lead the way. It is not just about who will do what job! It’s not just about equality; it’s about declining ratios. It’s about life. Soon, AI will be in many jobs; work will be three days a week. Youth would have a lot of time at their disposal. The media should project the right kind of life the future generation should ask. Show them the way.
A declining population can affect retirement benefits and the size of the working population in the coming years. Retirement benefits are drawn from the salaries of the working population. It’s not a question of equality between a man and a woman. What if everyone worked three days a week, with child care or day care for the other four days, as you say? Then would the answer be the same? Would gender matter then? Only a woman can give birth to a child, not a man. This difference can’t be changed. After that, if they both want to work, government policies must provide free child care so people don’t feel pressured. Let this be a gift to the world, a child! Let governments pay for their care and IVF/IUI treatments. Why not make child care just like pension accounts, to secure life and our very existence in the world? This is love for a child.
It’s a demographic decline. Youth needs awakening, not just on Climate Change but also on Population Decline. This is love for a future. We can’t build bases on the Moon or Mars when the population is in decline.
We are all rare in the universe. Even though Earth seems so populous, we must think about the future. Just as AI and climate change are taught in schools, population decline must be taught in schools and colleges, and why it is needed. Once again, it’s not about policies; it’s about awareness through media, movies, be it streaming series, or through special education in schools. Rest is choice.
Yes, benefits can vary from a three-day workweek to timely time off for care when a child is not well, free child day care, and need-based night care for children. This would create a lot of jobs as well. Jobs in day care and night care for children. No one can take these jobs away from you if you are good at them. Given that we all know the world is moving toward automation, a three-day workweek won’t be a dream in the coming days. Since automation will help the next generation care for many more children than our generation has, pass the torch with awareness, just as youth are climate- and AI-aware. Let the next generation be growth- and population-aware. Equip the next generation with whatever governments can provide, be it policy changes, but know nothing like awareness can beat it. Awareness can be through various channels, as I mentioned above in this article- direct (as climate change and AI are taught to the younger generation to be aware) or indirect (through media). So, if a couple can have one child, you need to explain to them the benefits they would get when the child is born. You are a senior now. Are you a role model ? Everyone is different not everyone wants children but some do, let’s awaken those who wants.
Thank you for reading.
Subscribe for updates.
Reference
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260416-1