The world's population may reach a peak of nine billion as early as 2070 and then start to shrink, according to a new analysis by Austrian researchers. Lutz thinks declining fertility rates around the world are the main driving force behind the slowing in population growth. The population will start to shrink when the average number of children per woman falls below 2.1 In some parts of Europe, fertility levels have already dropped dramatically. In Spain, the average number of children per woman is 1.2. In Russia the figure is 1.1.

I think that in areas of severe hunger and economic futility there is a overwhelming feeling of the species to not want to propagate. Why should they make it harder upon themselves by briniging a child into this world?