The World Counts (2024)

FAQs

What resources will run out by 2050? ›

Gold and other elements will run out by 2050

According to him, “in this scenario it is possible that the reserves of some of these elements will be exhausted in 2050 — such as gold and antimony — or in less than 100 years — in the case of molybdenum and zinc.”

We do not produce any original information but rely on data from a large number of organizations, research institutions, news services etc. We aim to use data from respected and well known organizations. But we also use data from a large number of smaller organizations, blogs etc.

Fresh Water. We are facing an unprecedented water crisis, with global freshwater demand predicted to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, says the UN. A new report puts forth urgent actions humans must take collectively to stop the imminent water crisis.

In the 2050s, we might see even more advanced technology, efforts to tackle climate issues, changes in population and cities, better healthcare, and increased global connectivity. There could be exciting developments in space exploration and changes in how we work and learn.

TheWorldCounts is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The site is being run and continuously updated by Esben Larsen and Karsten Bjerring Olsen. We work on bringing you the latest and most accurate live statistics on the state of the planet. Do you have questions or comments, or ideas?

The latest margin of error for the world population estimate is plus or minus two per cent, compared to Canada's rather precise 0.3 per cent.

8.1 Billion (current)

The term "World Population" refers to the human population (the total number of humans currently living) of the world.

Food and water are essential for human survival. Although the human body usually cannot live more than two weeks without water, the length of time that a person can live without food varies depending on the size of the person. The body will use its fat and stored protein (muscles) to survive.

What is the most scarce resource on Earth? ›

Looking farther into the future, other sources claim that things like aluminum might run dry in about 80 years. Other studies indicate that rhodium, followed by gold, platinum and tellurium, are some of the rarest elements in terms of their percentage in the planet's crust and their importance to society.

But the wide-reaching environmental and global health consequences of our current practices make it abundantly clear that we're consuming a lot more than we need to. Unless we make a change, overconsumption will destroy our ecosystems — and possibly humanity's ability to live within them.

So, if we continue at our current rate, it is estimated that all of our fossil fuels will be depleted by 2060. If we keep on mining the earth in such a damaging way, we might find new reserves that will push that date back.

All in all, resources are not being depleted in the way that Ehrlich feared they would—as witnessed by the fact that humanity has not yet run out of a single supposedly nonrenewable resource. In fact, resources tend to become more abundant over time relative to the demand for them.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world's electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050.

Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. Once these resources are used up, they cannot be replaced, which is a major problem for humanity as we are currently dependent on them to supply most of our energy needs.

Water, agriculture, and air

If conservation efforts are not ramped up significantly, the majority of global freshwater supplies might be exhausted by 2040, according to BofA.

By 2050, outdoor air pollution particulate matter and ground-level ozone is projected to become the top cause of environmentally related deaths worldwide. A study showed that with no change in emissions by 2050, 1,126,000 premature mortalities are expected each year due to ozone⁸.