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Abstract

Amos Salvador, 2005, Energy: A historial perspective and 21st century forecast: AAPG Studies in Geology #54, p. 7-18.

DOI:10.1306/1032707SP226

Copyright copy2005 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Human Population and Energy Consumption: The Past

Amos Salvador

ABSTRACT

The rate of growth of the world's human population, alarmingly rapid during the last couple of centuries, slowed down appreciably in the late 20th century in the developing and developed countries alike. However, the human population continues to grow slowly in the developed countries and faster in the Third World, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The developing countries increased their share of the total world population from 67% in 1950 to 79% in 2000.

Total energy consumption, as a result, also increased faster in the developing than in the developed countries. The fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) provided the bulk of the energy consumed in the world in the last 50 years. Only hydroelectric power and, since 1950, nuclear power contributed additional, albeit smaller, amounts of energy.

Energy consumption per capita rose worldwide since the mid-20th century until the early 1970s. Since then, it has grown at a much lower rate everywhere, even remaining essentially unchanged in some countries. Energy consumption per capita in the developed countries in the last 50 years has been much higher (7–10 times higher) than that in the developing countries and 2–4 times higher in the United States than in the rest of the developed countries.

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