Global birthrates appear to be falling so far so fast that if the numbers hold up, the world will be facing a major demographic collapse later this century.

Some will say this is a good thing, that fewer people will help the planet recover. To an extent that is true.

However, it’s not just the size of a population that’s important, but the shape of its age pyramid that determines if said population can thrive. Since people are living longer on average and having fewer kids, this is slowly but surely turning the global age pyramid upside down.

Once the world crosses this threshold of there being more elderly than young people, I’m not sure how the modern world can cope. There won’t be enough young people to work the jobs, maintain the infrastructure, or pay the entitlements that the majority of the population will assumingly be dependent upon by that point.

All economic structures built on assumed future growth would go down along with everything they prop up. Housing, global finance, etc.

A lot of countries, especially the smaller ones, I simply don’t think would/will survive.

The way I see it, it will either be a bad and prolonged global depression at best or a catastrophe on par with the Bronze Age Collapse at worst.

The only way I see how this can be avoided is if every couple starts shooting for a sweet spot of at least 3 kids, and soon. But modern economics and social values don’t seem to favor family formation, at least not enough to reach the replacement level. I don’t think this can be solved simply with more money either because studies have shown that the richer a couple is the less likely they are to have kids, for whatever reason.

On top of that, more research is appearing that shows modern chemicals in everyday items, especially plastics, are drastically affecting the hormones and fertility of the population. Since 1973 the average testosterone level of an American male has dropped by 59% for example. More than half. And the effects compound with each generation that remains in the contaminated environment.

I predict countries will be encouraging more and more immigration in the future, but since the declining birthrate is a global trend I see this as a band-aid on a gaping wound. Merely delaying the inevitable.

How could this issue be tackled in an effective and ethical manner? Can it even be avoided at all or is it something humanity is simply going to have to go through? Or will this even happen at all?