We hear often of over-population, but could world under-population occur?

Question

If the world human population began falling rapidly, due to ecological disaster or disease, without any other physical damage to the world, at what point would our numbers be too low to sustain the world economy and civiliation?

Answer 1

yes it is one of those eternal manager questions how many and what mix of colonists do you want. Read early years of Jamestown and Plymouth colonies also the play of the lost colony. Up to this point we could always go back for more or to start over but in the case of the situations you mention including 'The Stand" pockets would begin to fail and inbreeding would take a heavy tole. A good point to space colonization but then we are back to the original question of how many and what mix. The space colony would have to be self supporting, cause not that we on earth ever have political upheavals but there maybe numerous disconnections before it becomes self sustaining. After that the colony would begin to send stuff home.

Answer 2

It happens roughly every 20,000 years, during world wide Ice Ages, I think we are roughly 2 or 3 thousand years from our next one. Hopefully this time we will be able to make it off planet though. Or we'd decide not to because that's the way our planet works... heh.

Answer 3

I heard Italy was endanger of low numbers. It probably was a rumor

Answer 4

this will never come to pass as long as the governments of the world need standing armies for they also serve who serve as cannon fodder

Answer 5

sure, haven't you ever read The Stand by Stephen King?

Answer 6

probably at two thirds of the population its at now.

Answer 7

There is no such thing as too low, we started with with nothing.

Answer 8

when it get's down to one...I am pretty sure are economy is screwed