If the world were 1000 people, what portion of them would be North Americans?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
The world’s population has doubled in size over the last 50 years. Dang! In 2022, we reached the mark of 8 billion living on Earth. According to UN estimates, by July 2023, all the people in the world numbered 8,045,311,447. Imagine that world’s population as 1000 people. If the world were 1000 people, use the map above or this interactive version of the map) to determine how many of those people would be North Americans.
If the world were 1000 people, about how many of those people would be Americans (as in USA - Americans)?
If the world were 1000 people, what continent would have the largest population of humans?
Roughly, what portion of the world’s people would be from that continent?
If the world were 1000 people, what country would have the largest population (178/1000) of humans?
A student named Elsie looked at the map above and answered the following question: Are those Santa’s elves up there at the top of the map in the North Pole? How do you think I should have responded to Elsie?
While population projections to the end of the century do differ, they mostly agree on the same general principle: the global population is rising but that growth rate is slowing. Eventually the population will peak (sometime between 2064-2086) and begin shrinking from there. Explain whether the end of global population growth will be a good thing.
A student named Griffontrolox took a look at the data above and drew the following conclusion: Indian must be the most spoken language in the world. Explain whether Griffontrolox is correct and how we should punish him for his silly name.
A student named Aaron took one look at the map and said that India is winning. Explain whether Aaron is correct and how he should pronounce his name.
It’s true that if you are one in a million in India, there are 1700 more people just like you. If you are one in a million, how many Americans are just like you??
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Use this cool interactive feature to calculate the relative size of any country out of a world population of 1000.
Get Creative
Write a rap, song, nursery rhyme, haiku, or poem about the population and the world as 1000 people. Remember, bajillion is a word but it does not have an actual precise or standard mathematical meaning. Make Kendrick Lamar proud.
