die
Weltbevölkerung
🌍 What does "die Weltbevölkerung" mean?
Die Weltbevölkerung means the 'world population', referring to the total number of humans living on Earth at a specific point in time. It's a term often used in discussions about demographics, global development, resource distribution, and environmental issues.
The word is a compound noun formed from Welt (world) and Bevölkerung (population).
Because Bevölkerung is feminine ('die Bevölkerung'), die Weltbevölkerung is also feminine. There are no other articles for this word. 🚨 It is almost exclusively used in the singular form.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declension of Weltbevölkerung
The noun 'Weltbevölkerung' is feminine. Here is the declension in the singular. A plural form is generally not used because there is only *one* world population.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Weltbevölkerung | eine Weltbevölkerung |
| Genitive | der Weltbevölkerung | einer Weltbevölkerung |
| Dative | der Weltbevölkerung | einer Weltbevölkerung |
| Accusative | die Weltbevölkerung | eine Weltbevölkerung |
Example Sentences
- Die Weltbevölkerung wächst kontinuierlich.
(The world population is growing continuously.) - Die Ernährung der wachsenden Weltbevölkerung stellt eine große Herausforderung dar.
(Feeding the growing world population presents a major challenge.) - Statistiken zur Weltbevölkerung werden von den Vereinten Nationen veröffentlicht.
(Statistics on the world population are published by the United Nations.) - Der ökologische Fußabdruck der Weltbevölkerung ist zu hoch.
(The ecological footprint of the world population is too high.)
🗣️ How is "Weltbevölkerung" used?
The term 'Weltbevölkerung' is mainly used in factual contexts:
- Statistics & Demographics: When discussing population figures, growth, age structure, or distribution. (Example: Die Weltbevölkerung hat die 8-Milliarden-Marke überschritten. - The world population has surpassed the 8 billion mark.)
- Politics & Sociology: In discussions about global challenges such as poverty, migration, healthcare systems. (Example: Die Alterung der Weltbevölkerung beeinflusst die Sozialsysteme. - The aging of the world population affects social systems.)
- Environment & Resources: In connection with resource consumption, climate change, and sustainability. (Example: Wie können wir die Ressourcen gerecht auf die Weltbevölkerung verteilen? - How can we distribute resources fairly among the world population?)
It is a more formal and specific term than, for example, 'Menschheit' (humanity/mankind), which has more philosophical or cultural connotations.
💡 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Remember 'die Bevölkerung' (the population). Since Bevölkerung is feminine (perhaps think of a population or community often having nurturing/feminine associations), die Weltbevölkerung is also feminine. The world contains die (the) one population.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine zooming out from your house, over your city, your country, until you see the whole Welt (world). Then picture all the people – that's the Bevölkerung (population). Together, they make up die Weltbevölkerung.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Erdbevölkerung: Very similar, emphasizes planet Earth.
- Menschheit: Broader term, can also be used culturally or philosophically ('humanity', 'mankind').
- Erdballbewohner (rare): More poetic, less common ('inhabitants of the globe').
- Gesamtbevölkerung der Erde: Descriptive phrase ('total population of the Earth').
Antonyms (Conceptual Opposites):
- Lokale Bevölkerung: Local population (of a specific place).
- Nationale Bevölkerung: National population (of a country).
- Tierpopulation: Animal population.
- Individuum / Einzelperson: Individual person.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Statistiker den anderen: "Glaubst du, die Weltbevölkerung wird jemals aufhören zu zählen?"
Sagt der andere: "Ich nicht, aber vielleicht hören sie auf zu wachsen!"
(One statistician asks another: "Do you think the world population will ever stop counting?"
The other replies: "I don't, but maybe they'll stop growing!")
📜 Poem about the World Population
Milliarden Seelen, dicht an dicht,
Auf diesem Ball, im Sonnenlicht.
Die Weltbevölkerung, sie wächst und strebt,
Hat Freud und Leid und viel erlebt.
Von Kontinent zu Kontinent,
Ein jeder hofft, ein jeder rennt.
Lasst uns die Erde weise teilen,
Und als Gemeinschaft hier verweilen.
(Billions of souls, side by side,
On this sphere, in sunlight wide.
The world population, it grows and strives,
Has known joy and sorrow, lived many lives.)
(From continent to continent they roam,
Everyone hopes, everyone makes a home.
Let us share the Earth with wisdom's grace,
And dwell together in this place.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich zähle Köpfe, groß und klein,
Auf Kontinenten, sonnenschein.
Mal wachse ich schnell, mal langsam sehr,
Ich bin die Summe - bitte sehr!
Wer bin ich?
... Die Weltbevölkerung
(I count heads, both big and small,
On continents, standing tall.
Sometimes I grow fast, sometimes slow,
I am the total sum, you know!
What am I?
... The World Population)
✨ Other Interesting Details about Weltbevölkerung
Word Composition:
The word 'Weltbevölkerung' is a compound noun, composed of:
- Welt (noun): Refers to the planet Earth or the entirety of human society.
- Bevölkerung (noun): Refers to the total number of inhabitants of a specific area ('population').
Trivia:
Die Weltbevölkerung (the world population) surpassed the 8 billion mark in November 2022. However, the growth rate is generally slowing down.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weltbevölkerung?
The word "Weltbevölkerung" is always feminine. The correct article is die. Therefore, it is always die Weltbevölkerung.