2007-03-12 09:28:59 · 25 answers · asked by Sid S 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
No.
Per the population reference bureau, the total number of people who have lived on the planet (since the dawn of the species) is over 100 billion.
There are presently only somewhere north of 6 billion inhabitants.
2007-03-12 10:32:53 · answer #1 · answered by Mark P 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let's do a simple thought experiment. Imagine starting with a population of 100 and that this population increases by a factor of 10 every generation. Assume that the previous generation dies before the next generation begins
Generation Total Died Still Living
0 100 0 100
1 1000 100 900
2 9000 1000 8000
3 80000 9000 71000
Notice that the number living way outnumbers the total number of those who have died. So I don't think it is mathematically absurd to assume such a statement could be true. I think it is entirely possible, considering the way we multiply. The rate of birth is much higher than the rate of death. And though we are considering many generations of dead, each generation that you go back is less populated.
I don't know the correct answer to this question, but I would not be so quick to assume it is impossible.
Hope this helps.
2007-03-12 17:00:27 · answer #2 · answered by vidigod 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lol no way, everyone who dies adds up the number they don't go away.
You're saying the 3 or 4 generations that are alive at the moment are more numerous than the people from the 3 or 4 generations already dead and the collective amount of the countless thousands maybe millions of generations all the way back to pre historic times that are dead??? Wow
2007-03-12 16:40:59 · answer #3 · answered by ukcufs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently, the total number of humans since our species began (depending how many generations you count) is still quite a bit larger that the current living population. So the answer to your question is probably no.
However, if the exponential increase in population continues, yes there will come a point where more people are alive than have ever existed. And for all you fellow Buddhists and Hindus out there, where do all these 'new' souls come from, if all are reincarnated?
2007-03-13 20:20:19 · answer #4 · answered by gaurav19671031 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
possibly. whether you adhere to the theory of evolution or intelligent design, this is very possible. imagine for a moment first humans on earth, be it adam and eve or the cavemen. since they are the first living there were none dead before them, so more people were alive than were dead. now, let's also say that people procreated fast than they, this is obvious because the population has grown. according to census information less than 1% of the world population dies ever year. assuming this is a constant rate. and that the population was increasing at a much faster rate, it's highly likely.
2007-03-12 17:01:41 · answer #5 · answered by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually (and you can look this up) 10% of everyone that has ever lived is alive right now. Only 10%
2007-03-12 16:33:16 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I have heard, yes. Probably because the medical field has become so advanced. We have the ability to keep people alive longer by preventative medicine and our knowledge to treat many diseases today.
All I have to say is God bless doctors, and thank you! I'm alive today because of a few of them!
2007-03-12 16:32:17 · answer #7 · answered by Peanut Butter 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How would you possibly know the number dead?
2007-03-12 16:31:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Yes there are.
about 4 billion are dead, and 6.9 billion are alive.
2007-03-12 16:32:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
That depends on what you consider to be alive.
2007-03-12 16:32:08 · answer #10 · answered by kasar777 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋