Growth of the World Population in the Past 12,000 Years and Its Link to the Economic Growth
Data describing the growth of the world population in the past 12,000 yearsare analysed. It is shown that,if unchecked, population does not increase exponentially but hyperbolically. This analysis reveals three approximately determined episodes of hyperbolic growth: 10,000 500 BC, AD 500 1200 and AD 1400 1950, representing a total of about 89% of the past 12,000 years. It also reveals three demographic transitions: 500 BC AD 500, AD 1200 1400 and AD 1950 present, representing the remaining 11% of the past 12,000 years. The first two transitions were between sustained hyperbolic trajectories. The current transition is to an unknown trajectory. There was never any form of dramatic transition from stagnation to growth, described often as a takeoff, because there was no stagnation in the growth of the world population. Correct understanding of the historical growth of human population is essential in the correct interpretation of the historical growth of income per capita.