Population, environment and development For example World population has more than doubled in only 43 years, from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 5.5 billion in 1993. Unless death rates rise sharply, it may reach 11 billion by 2045, and 14 billion by 2100 Resources, economic development, and resource scarcity All countries seek economic growth: increasing their capacity to provide goods and services for final