Surface area!

[IC]

How big is the habitable surface of the Earth? Anyone know?

What would you say would be the ideal number of people, per square mile, to ensure sustainability?

[ClubMed]

If you are going to mention religion at some point in this thread then you better continue in the previous thread your started. Just some advice to you.

You know, I actually read in one of my Discover magazines where they figured out the best number of people for Earth is around two billion. But of course there were counter-theories and such.

[iNeb]

I heard somewhere if treated properly, then the earth could support around 60 billion people

[IC]

Originally posted by iNeb
I heard somewhere if treated properly, then the earth could support around 60 billion people

That is TEN times more than there is now!

Where are the resources going to come from?

[ClubMed]

IC your question leads me to believe that you think we have reached a maximum as far as the worlds resources are concerned.

In actuality, currently, we are over the maximum. If the world was one big united utopian Eden, we'd have enough, but currently, we are way over maximum.

[ClubMed]

I dont believe that.

I would like IC to answer this question.

Doesn't matter what you believe. People die of hunger every day. Obviously we're over the maximum.

What question? You didn't ask a question.

[IC]

I found the land area in an old Atlas. It is: 148,326,000 km˛ (57,268,990 miles˛)

The water surface is: 361,740,000 km˛ (139,668,610 miles˛)

Looking at Canada and Australia where the population density is only 2 per square mile would mean only 114,537,980 people!

Arrgg!

So if I divide 6,000,000,000 by 57,268,990 I get: 104·77 people per square mile.

But then not all of the land area is really habitable.