Megachange

The Core of “Megachange”

It took 250,000 years for the world’s population to reach one billion people, in about 1800. In two more centuries, population accelerated faster to reach seven billion late in 2011. This is a “megachange: change on a grand scale that happens at a remarkable speed.” Looking at megachanges unfolding now, several trends will shape the world of 2050. Populations will continue to increase and to age. Though simply projecting the present forward in a direct line is tempting, society will face disruptive change, and change in one realm will affect others. The East is rising, so global power is shifting that way. While some changes will be negative, progress will continue in many areas.

“People and Relationships”

Demographics are “not quite destiny,” but demographic trends are powerful and sweeping. The growth in the human population will be the single biggest demographic change. In 2050, Earth will be home to nine billion people. This growth will not be uniform: Some nations’ populations will soar. Half of the population increase by 2050 will happen in Africa, which will hold three times as many people as Europe. Nigeria will have about 390...