Chapter 1, Student Web Activities, Our World Today, Glencoe, 2003

Chapter 1: Our Social World
"The World Population Clock"

Introduction
In this chapter you have read about the world's rapidly growing population. As the population increases so does the need for food, health care, education, etc. Demographers study the characteristics of population. The U.S. Constitution requires the government to make a count of the population of the United States every ten years. Population experts at the U.S. Census Bureau compile the results of these population studies and others from around the world and throughout world history. These numbers are used to make decisions on taxes, spending, and other government policies.

Destination Title: U.S. Census Bureau

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Directions
Start at the U.S. Census Bureau site.

Find the menu on the right side of the screen.
Click on Population Clocks.

After you have read through the information, answer the following questions.

1. What is the current U.S. population?

2. What is the current world population?

3. Click on World POPClock Notes. Scroll to the bottom and click on Worldpop and then click on World Vital Events Per Time Unit. How many births are there per second in the world? How many deaths per second?

4. What is the natural increase per second in the world?

5. Click the "back" button to find Historical Estimates of World Population. Use the information in the chart and in the United Nations world population link at the bottom of the screen to create a bar or line graph that displays the world population from the year -10,000 to the year 2000. Use the numbers in the far-left column (under "Summary-Lower") when creating your graph.