In the first quarter of the 21st century '''global fertility rates''' plummeted to record lows all over the industrialized world, and this has serious implications for the future. Native populations fell in wealthy countries, and there are not enough young workers to support the [[entitlement]] programs that the elderly are counting on. Meanwhile, nations where birth rates are still above replacement level (such as in the [[Islamic]] world) are becoming more powerful and will play a more dominant role in world affairs. Despite all of [[the West]]'s advanced [[technology]], [[population]] numbers still matter, a demographic collapse of epic proportions became imminent.<ref>https://www.vox.com/23971366/declining-birth-rate-fertility-babies-children</ref> | In the first quarter of the 21st century '''global fertility rates''' plummeted to record lows all over the industrialized world, and this has serious implications for the future. Native populations fell in wealthy countries, and there are not enough young workers to support the [[entitlement]] programs that the elderly are counting on. Meanwhile, nations where birth rates are still above replacement level (such as in the [[Islamic]] world) are becoming more powerful and will play a more dominant role in world affairs. Despite all of [[the West]]'s advanced [[technology]], [[population]] numbers still matter, a demographic collapse of epic proportions became imminent.<ref>https://www.vox.com/23971366/declining-birth-rate-fertility-babies-children</ref> |