Elon Musk has once again sparked conversation around the issue of global population decline, with a simple yet powerful one-word response that reflects his deep concern about the future of humanity. The Tesla CEO retweeted a post on X (formerly Twitter), referencing a graph that projected a significant demographic shift in the coming decades, particularly in China and India, two of the most populous countries in the world.
The original Tesla Owners Silicon Valley accounts shared a curve that showed the projected community shifts from 2018 to 2100, showing a significant population decline in both nations. The post captioned the graph,” Population collapse is humanity’s greatest threat … Elon Musk”, to which Musk replied with a brief but impactful,” Yes”.
The diagram paints a disturbing picture: While India’s population is set to rise by around 400 million people by 2100, China’s population is expected to drop by an even more remarkable 731 million, dropping to only 731.9 million. However, Nigeria’s people is set to soar, with forecasts showing it overtaking China’s people by the end of the century.
The obedient answer from Musk highlights his long-standing concern about global demographic trends. Over the years, he has warned that people drop, fueled by aspects like falling fertility costs, aging populations, and immigration, poses a growing threat to the nation’s economy and growth.
The world drop: Ovulation rates, aging communities, and shifting populations
Experts have identified a number of factors that are contributing to the craze, including the global drop in fertility rates. For some countries, the average number of children born per person has fallen below the 2.1 replacement level, which is necessary to sustain a robust population. In 2023, England and Wales recorded their lowest fertility rate always, at only 1.44 children per woman. Globally, fertility rates have halved since 1963, with the average number of children per person falling from 5.3 to less than 2.5 now.
While communities in developed nations like India and China are on the decline, it is anticipated that populations in developed countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia will increase. Researchers at the University of Washington have suggested that people drop, especially in developed nations like China and India, does occur more quickly than initially anticipated, raising concerns about labour shortages, financial decline, and cultural strain in these areas.
Musk’s vision: Warnings and implications for the future
Musk has made a strong point about the potential dangers of a shrinking global population. In previous statements, he has emphasized that the world is in danger of experiencing a “population collapse,” which could have a significant impact on both the global economy and technological advancements. He has also emphasized the need for laws to promote higher birth rates, particularly in aging societies like those in Europe and Japan, where low fertility rates are already affecting economic growth.
The effects of these demographic shifts are significant. The global balance of power may change as countries like India and China deal with aging populations and declining birth rates. Nations with growing populations, such as Nigeria, could find themselves in a position of increasing global influence.
Musk’s concerns aren’t just theoretical. The businessman’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, have long been invested in the future of humanity, with Musk advocating for space exploration as a means of securing a sustainable future for the human race. In light of the decline in population, Musk sees space exploration as a component of a wider plan to ensure that humanity can survive for the long term.
With Musk’s succinct response to the population projections, the conversation around global demographic decline has been reignited. The alarm over “population collapse” serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent issues humanity faces in the upcoming century as world leaders and policymakers grapple with the repercussions of a shrinking global population.
