Fig. 2: Relationships between human population (millions) and key economic indicators. | Communications Earth & Environment

Fig. 2: Relationships between human population (millions) and key economic indicators.

From: Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch

Fig. 2

Relationships between human population (millions) and key economic indicators: a rate of population growth (%/y), b energy consumption per capita (E in GJ/y/capita), c per capita productivity (P as GDP in 1990 international dollars, $/y/capita), and d P/E ratio, each across Holocene and Anthropocene epochs. Purple circle = 1850 CE; blue square = 1950 CE. A marked change in GDP per capita after 1850 CE reflects the global spread of industrialization and technology. The rate of change in population sharply increases around 1950 CE. The P/E ratio fell for most of the Holocene, until 1850 CE, when human society became more productive per unit energy use. Data references are listed in Supplementary Online Material.

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