As others pointed out, population growth is highest when people are poor. Complex issue, but something where you can wait to have kids and have just one or two

As others pointed out, population growth is highest when people are poor. Complex issue, but something where you can wait to have kids and have just one or two if you know that the kids will survive and thrive. A life that seems not only temporarily unstable but has no possibility of stability is one where people have lots of kids to hedge their bets that some will survive and be okay — plus the lack of health care, contraception, education (esp. women's education and career prospects)… http://www.gapminder.org/ http://www.gapminder.org/ for best perspectives on all this