Global Population Evolution: 1870-1913 Analysis
The Evolution of Global Population (1870-1913)
Between 1870 and 1913, the world population increased from 1175 million to 1723 million, a rise of over 50%. Europe was the demographic center, holding a quarter of the world’s population and sending migrants to the Americas, Oceania, and parts of Africa. The peak in world population growth occurred between 1860 and 1880, followed by a decline in the rate of increase.
Factors Influencing Population Changes
The discoveries of Pasteur and others led to vaccines and serums that contained diseases like typhus, cholera, and diphtheria, especially among children. Improved hygiene and living standards, including better nutrition in Western Europe, also helped prevent epidemics and extend lifespans, significantly lowering mortality rates.
Birth rates also declined, particularly in economically advanced Western countries. This trend was influenced by the spread of Malthusian ideas, which advocated birth control as a solution to economic crises. Malthusianism aimed to alleviate poverty by restricting birth rates, primarily targeting workers. Socialists and Catholics opposed these ideas, while the wealthy classes adopted Malthusian practices. The decline in fertility was inversely proportional to economic and social status.
Regional Variations in Population Growth
France exhibited greater demographic stability, with an annual growth rate of 1.2 per thousand. In contrast, England had a rate of 7.8 per thousand, the Netherlands 6.4 per thousand, Germany 5.7 per thousand, and Belgium 5.6 per thousand. The most rapid population growth occurred in the eastern Mediterranean countries. Ireland experienced a nearly 50% population decrease between 1850 and 1913 due to significant emigration.
Demographic and Migration Systems
Throughout the 19th century, emigration from Europe to other continents steadily increased. The flow of emigration was driven by the opportunities in receiving countries and served as an outlet for Europe’s substantial population growth. European migration accounted for approximately 40% of the annual growth of the European population during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Great Migration Era
The era of the great migration began with the economic and political crises of 1846-48. The first wave, lasting until 1880, consisted mainly of British (English and Irish), Germans, and Scandinavians. By 1850, the British constituted 80% of the emigrants.