World Population Day 2013 is 2 days away, and we’re counting down the Top 10 Reasons to Choose a Small Family. Reason #3 is: The Average Cost to Raise a Child (in the U.S.) is a Whopping $389,670. That does NOT include college tuition (or beer). It’s an astonishing number, especially when you consider the many socialized costs that are not included (like public education). It’s entirely possible couples would be much more careful about practicing safe sex if they had this information.

I’m confident couples around the world will also plan their families carefully and happily choose to conceive only one or two children, or perhaps none, if they understand how the world is overpopulated today. U.N. estimates that world population will hit 10 billion around the year 2061 should not fool us into thinking this is predestined. We have the power to end overpopulation this century. The first step is to EXPECT moral, rational behavior from ourselves!

More information about the cost of raising children can be found here (we used this source) and here.

How do I know the world is overpopulated? Data from the scientists at Global Footprint Network, as published in the WWF Living Planet Report, is a good place to start. There are either too many of us, or we are living too high on the hog. Both are actually true.

This week, as we contemplate World Population Day, let’s make an extra effort to talk about overpopulation, and especially to make sure everyone approaching child-rearing age is made aware of the situation!

Dave Gardner
Director of the documentary
GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth