April 13, 2022

Opinion Piece Offers Valuable Insight on Population Growth

Joseph Chamie on Population Growth

In March, Joseph Chamie wrote an opinion piece on U.S. population growth for a publication. Along with being an opinion contributor for The Hill, Chamie is also a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division, and author of numerous publications on population issues, including his recent book, “Births, Deaths, Migrations, and Other Important Population Matters.” In his published article, Chamie swan dives into U.S. population growth by quoting the 1972 report by the U.S. Commission on Population Growth and the American Future: “In the long run, no substantial benefits will result from the further growth of America’s population. The gradual stabilization of the U.S. population through voluntary means would contribute significantly to America’s ability to solve its problems.”

Chamie notes that today, America’s population exceeds 330 million, with a projected outlook of potentially reaching 400 million by mid-century. “Without a doubt,” he shares, “America’s population growth is a major factor affecting domestic demand for resources, including water, food and energy, and the worsening of the environment and climate change. There is hardly any major problem facing America with a solution that would be easier if the nation’s population was larger. On the contrary, population stabilization would help to solve several.”

He then discusses some of the arguments laid out by those who support population growth, contending these arguments “ignore or dismiss the negative consequences for the country, which are threats to the wellbeing of today’s Americans as well as the long-term sustainability of the nation.” Chamie continues to navigate further into the complexities surrounding population growth by explaining to readers an invaluable consequence of a concentrated effort to achieve a sustainable future. “Gradually stabilizing America’s population,” he says, “will provide an exemplary model for other countries to emulate. Rather than racing to increase the size of their respective populations in a world with 8 billion humans and growing, nations would see America moving away from the unsustainable demographic strategy.”

Before closing his work, Chamie taps into a critical element often ignored in mainstream conversations about population growth: immigration. Chamie states: “With the nation’s fertility below the replacement level, stabilizing America’s population will necessarily involve substantially reducing immigration levels, estimated at approximately 1.1 million per year. If immigration levels were, for example, close to zero, America’s projected population in 2060 would be 320 million versus 405 million if immigration continued at the same pace.” He concludes with a strong call for action, stating: “After 50 years since the commission presented its central finding, it is well past the time for the White House, Congress, and the American public to embrace the gradual stabilization of population, which is essential for ensuring the country’s vitality, prosperity and sustainability.” NPG agrees with Mr. Joseph Chamie and his take on U.S. population growth. We must pursue opportunities that will slow, halt, and eventually reverse population growth, including re-evaluation and amendments to U.S. immigration policies.

Help us continue to release information such as this by making a donation today!