"Global Fertility Decline Threatens Population Sustainability by 2100"

A study published in The Lancet predicts a "dramatic decline" in global fertility rates, with 97% of countries projected to have rates too low to sustain population size by 2100. European countries are already below the global average, with fertility rates falling below the necessary level for population growth. Experts note potential pros and cons of low fertility rates, including impacts on health care, pensions, and geopolitics. The study highlights "staggering social change" as sub-Saharan Africa is projected to account for half of global births by 2100, with resource-limited countries facing challenges in supporting rapidly growing populations.