Below is a small collection of population predictions for our time (and beyond), published in past publictions. The earliest dating from 1859, looking all the way out to 1990. Some were surprisingly accurate, while others were far off the mark. … Read entire article »

A 1938 article in the Evening Post attempted to predict the United States population 42 years in the future. Surprisingly, the writer predicted that the population would actually start to decrease after 1980. … Read entire article »

According to an article in the Meriden Daily Journal dated 9/24/1921, Massachusetts resident Alfred V. Lincoln set aside $7500 of his estate at compound interest for 90 years, to be withdrawn in the year 2011 in order to plant trees in his hometown. The 1921 article estimated that his $7500 could grow to $250,000 and as high as millions. The article pondered if the interest system would even exist 90 years in the future. Internet searches have revealed nothing about the outcome of this story. The original story reads: TURN $7,500 INTO $250,000 Bank ads often say that if $1 had been placed at compound interest in the year 1, it would have grown, by now, to a sum bigger than all the money in the world. That must have caught the eye of Alfred … Read entire article »

Prediction: World’s natural gas down to last 10% by 2010 Date: 1974 Score: Wrong Amid the 1970′s oil crisis, there was a lot of talk about the long-term supply of petroleum and of natural gas. In an article dated 10/14/1974 in the Ludington Daily News, writer H.J. Heller quotes William R. Gould, chairman of the Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. as saying that  ”we are expected to reach the last 10 per cent of the earth’s supply of natural gas.” Some cursory research of various sources leads to the determination that this prediction was way off. We have at least 60-100 years left of natural gas supplies that we know of. … Read entire article »

In a 1957 article, predictions were made for what life might be like 50 years later, in the year 2007. Here’s what they had to say: … Read entire article »

On December 30, 1979 an article entitled “Why Does Everything Cost So Much?’ appeared in the Beaver Country Times, discussing inflation and the future. The writer suggested that a $50,000 home in 1979 would cost $3.2 million in 2011, while a $5000 car would cost $320,000. While this sounds far-fetched, the writer does correct his math and predicts that such a car could cost $40,000 in 2011, and that is not an unheard of figure today. It went on to hint at a depression in the 1980′s, which also did not happen. … Read entire article »

According to a NY Times article dated March 5, 1976, the UN predicted that the global population in 2010 would be nearly 8 billion. They based it on 1974 data, using a 1.9% growth rate. At the end of 2010, however, the world population stands at about 6.8 billion. … Read entire article »

In an article posted on New Year’s Eve, 1967, writer Andrew Squibb Jr. outlined predictions for the year 2000 – 32 years away – by the Commission on the Year 2000. Here is a list of those predictions: 6 or 7 billion people Intercontinental travel by rocket Decision-making by computer Decline of US and Soviet control of world events Abundant thermonuclear energy Farming in the oceans Mining on the moon Permanent research labs orbiting in space 2 careers per lifetime due to longevity Less disease More psychological stress Weather control Population control Personality control Couples designated to breed More clerks, researchers, and technicians Routine use of drugs to alter behavior Ten more countries with A-bombs More leisure Rationing of recreational facilities End of democratic government due to apathy Destruction of traditional marriage due to birth control and artificial insemination Over-emphasis on education More dangerous weapons available to poor countries Widespread affluence Humanely designed cities and housing Decline … Read entire article »

In 1964, the US Census Bureau predicted US populations in the future through the year 2010. Were they accurate or was this just another bad prediction? They predicted: 1967: 200 million 1970: 206-211 million 1985: 248-276 million 2010: 322-438 million The actual numbers were: 1967: 198 million (2 million below projection) 1970: 205 million (1-6 million below projection) 1985: 238 million (10-38 million below projection) 2010: 310 million (12-128 million below projection) It’s really not too bad considering these predictions were made 46 years ago. Source: Sarasota Journal, July 9, 1964. … Read entire article »