7 years ago
4
Why South Korea predicts its end will come in 2750
South Korea may be doomed. A recent study, conducted by the National Assembly Research Service in Seoul, predicts that the country will reach zero inhabitants by 2750. The report makes it clear where the country's problem lies: A remarkably low birth rate of 1.19 children per woman. But what's really striking is the speed at which it could happen: South Korea's population (currently larger than Spain) could shrink to a level comparable to tiny Switzerland within only a few generations.
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Given global warming, I think 2750 is an extremely optimistic estimate.
If you look at South Korea in google earth, the entire western half of the country looks like one giant city. I imagine that a combination of people moving east and a lower population density will cause birth rates per woman to rise over time. Suppose that in this coming 25 years, population drops from 50 million to 40 million. All of a sudden, the cities aren't as full. People will naturally start having more children. I'd say that given current climate situations, a birthrate of less than 2 per woman is a good thing for the foreseeable future.
It's a shame that they don't have enough time to figure out a solution to the problem.
Yeah 600 years speeds right on by!