This is John Bachelor, conversation with my colleague Gregor Coppley, Defense and Foreign Affairs about populations of the planet Earth for the balance of this century.

Surprising to learn that China in decline now will be replaced by India with a young population, however even India,

may not reach its potential before its youth begin to decline in numbers as well, a birth dearth, and then Africa, the

one part of the globe that's going to grow into the 21st century will also hit its decline before the end of the century.

In other words, planet Earth's human population will be shrinking when we hit the next century.

Shrinking and all that connects with a smaller population,

with a very senior population, and with inadequate numbers filling the ranks of manufacturing, innovation, invention, and travel.

Gregory Coppley, Defense and Foreign Affairs on India, China and Africa. and

Africa come the middle of the century. More of this later.

Maybe not even to the middle of the century.

Maybe not even to the middle of this century. The transformations in Africa are profound, the reductions in family sizes and the like.

India right now is benefiting from its really strong youth base, whereas China has

passed that point. But India itself may not reach its economic potential

before it reaches its problem of an aging population.

So, but right now India is desperately trying to grow at the expense of China in particular and is looking

to Africa but all of the world is going to face this India is going to face it next, Africa immediately thereafter.