For the first time on record, the number of newborns in South Korea last year fell below the number of deaths, underscoring a long-term crisis in one of the world’s most important economies.
Tag: Population
World Population Could Peak Decades Ahead of U.N. Forecast, Study Asserts
The study, published in The Lancet, said an accelerated decline in fertility rates means the global population could peak in 2064 at 9.7 billion and fall to 8.8 billion by century’s end.
Mass Extinctions Are Accelerating, Scientists Report
Five hundred species are likely to become extinct over the next two decades, according to a new study.
‘There’s No More Water’: Climate Change on a Drying Island
A delicate ecosystem was disrupted in the Comoros, off East Africa, when forests were cleared to make way for farmland. The consequences offer lessons for other parts of the developing world.
Italy’s Elderly Suffer Heavy Toll as Coronavirus Spreads
Spikes in the numbers of deaths and cases have become the new normal in the country with Europe’s oldest population.
Israel, ‘Start-up Nation,’ Groans Under Strains of Growth and Neglect
The election on Monday might break a yearlong political deadlock. But huge challenges in health, education and transit are decades in the making.
As Egypt’s Population Hits 100 Million, Celebration Is Muted
With little habitable land, deepening poverty and dwindling supplies of water, the future looks bleak. And there is no sign of a slowdown.
China’s Birthrate Hits Historic Low, in Looming Crisis for Beijing
In a country where most older adults rely heavily on their families, the continuing drop in births could have a seismic effect in the decades to come.
Diego, the Tortoise Whose High Sex Drive Helped Save His Species, Retires
With the future secured, he’s finally going home. Good job, Diego.
It’s 50 Below. The Past Is a Horror Show. You’d Dream of Escaping Too.
Best known as the most feared and frigid outpost of the Soviet gulag, Magadan struggles to keep its residents from fleeing. The ice cream isn’t enough to keep them.