Originally posted by GRUNHERZ
Immigration trends were factored into the study, most US gains are from that.
But the point being a reduction on immigration restrictions from Asia and Africa would see a vast increase in numbers arriving in Europe.
This is the study quoted in CNN
http://www.prb.org/pdf04/04WorldDataSheet_Eng.pdfIt's interesting to note certain things:
Euro average = 88% by 2050
but this breaks down by region
Northern Europe = +8% (inc. UK at +10% which will be entirely immigrants or children of recent immigrants)
Western Europe = -1%
Eastern Europe = -19%!
Southern Europe = -7%
I would think the large drops in Eastern and Southern Europe come from people emmigrating, mostly to Western and Northern Europe and especially from new EU countries to old ones.
It would be interesting to see a break down of the US by states. I'd bet you most of those increases would be in states close to the Mexico border and certain large ports of entry.
I also wonder where saturation point is: the UK has a total population of just under 60 million, in an area smaller than many US states.