2100 Population Projections
The Population Reference Bureau is reporting on the release of preliminary data from the United Nations Population Division projecting population in the year 2100. The United Nations expects India, which is likely to surpass China as the world's largest country by 2030, to reach more than 1.55 billion people in 2100. Here's the list of the world's largest countries in 2100...
- India - 1,557,468,000
- China - 944,380,000
- Nigeria - 756,007,000
- United States - 478,047,000
- Tanzania - 314,197,000
- Pakistan - 262,149,000
- Indonesia - 254,590,000
- Democratic Republic of the Congo - 212,000,000
- Philippines - 178,256,000
- Brazil - 178,134,000
It's interesting to compare this list to a current list of the world's largest countries and the estimates of the world's largest countries in 2050. Most notably, Nigeria will more than triple its current population and jump from eighth place to third, pushing the United States out of its long-held position as the world's third largest country. Additionally, Tanzania and the Philippines jump into the top ten at sixth and ninth places, respectively.
2011 Hurricane Season
The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be an above-average season, with 16 named storms, nine hurricanes, five of which will be intense hurricanes. An average season has ten named storms and six hurricanes, two of which are categorized as intense (Category 3 and above). Forecasters expect that this season's La Nina event will better allow for the development of hurricanes.
In other hurricane news, due to their destructive nature last year the 2010 hurricane names Igor and Tomas have been retired from the rotation of hurricane names. Take a look at this season's 2011 hurricane name list.
Southern Somalia Forms New Entity
Southernmost Somalia has apparently broken away from Somalia to form a pseudo-country known as Jubaland or Azania. The region, which abuts Kenya, is the third breakaway region in Somalia, after Somaliland and Puntland. Not much is known about the region, although it appears to be supported as a buffer between Somalia and Kenya.
New Quiz
Take my brand-new fifteen-question multiple-choice geography quiz to test your geographic knowledge. Good luck!
India Home to 1.21 Billion
Preliminary results of India's 2011 census reveals that the world's second most populous country has grown to 1.21 billion people. India has grown by 181 million people in the past decade (nearly the population of Pakistan) to become as large as the populations of United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan combined. Preliminary census figures have also revealed that the sex-ratio of boys and girls has reached is most uneven point yet, favoring baby boys. With this new surprising sex-ratio data, the government is sure to act, adding to the already existent prohibition on the use of ultrasound to determine the gender of fetuses in order to prevent gender-specific abortions. Read more about India's population and the 2011 census.
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New Articles
Check out these great new articles here on my site:
Geographers in High Demand
The About.com Career Planning site reports on the ten fastest growing jobs that require a master's degree or higher. In addition to a plethora of medical careers, geographer is also in the top ten! The list suggests the ten top jobs between now and 2018. Learn all about what it takes to obtain a degree in geography and some career options for geographers
Geography of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Regions
Want to learn about the geography and history of the region devastated by the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami? Take a look at these great new articles...
Mean Center of U.S. Population Announced
The United States Census Bureau announced the mean center of the United State population today as being near Plato, Missouri, an incorporated village in Texas County, Missouri. According to the Bureau, "The U.S. Census Bureau calculated this point as the place where an imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of the United States would balance perfectly if all 308,745,538 residents counted in the 2010 Census were of identical weight." The center of population has continually moved west every decade since the first census of 1790 placed the center of population near Chestertown, Maryland. Between 2000 and 2010, the center of population moved 23.4 miles southwest-ward from Edgar Springs, Missouri to Plato. The U.S. Census Bureau has a variety of maps and charts about the center of population on their website.
March Equinox on Sunday
On Sunday, March 20, 2011 at 7:21 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the March Equinox (also known as the Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox) occurs. On March 20, most consider that spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere and fall or autumn begins in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun is directly overhead the equator on the March Equinox at noon on March 20. On this day, as with every other day of the year, you can balance an egg on its end.
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