7,083,158,343 billion people live on our planet. Let me put that unfathomable number in perspective for you.

It would take 200 years to count to 7 billion out loud, and 7 billion steps would take you around the Earth 133 times.

Overpopulation is an understatement.

I am sure you have heard many scary statistics about overpopulation, and as we humans continue to procreate exponentially, these statistics hold more true every second–literally.

There are many factors causing overpopulation, besides the obvious high reproduction rates. Ever since the industrial revolution, innovations have lead to more humans. Medical advances have been leading to longer lifespans, and we have been producing and transporting more food at a faster rate. Now, the average man lives four decades longer than the average man in the 18th century.

It took 50,000 years for humanity to reach 1 billion, yet it only too 200 years for the population to jump from1 billion to 7 billion. Humans’ exponential growth isn’t stopping anytime soon. Developing nations are experiencing something called a youth bulge. The cohorts of ages 15 to 29 are the most populated cohort, leading to higher reproduction rates.

In the 1800s, scientists Thomas Malthus was predicting problems pertaining to overpopulation. He stated that “the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.” He might’ve been the only person able to project beyond his own generation to see potential issues–and, he was right.

If we continue consuming water, food, and other resources at the rate we are now, we would need four more earths to keep the balance. The Earth is only composed of less than 1% of drinking water. Most food is eating by the food itself. That is to say that it is wasted and fed to the cows and farm animals. The United States is by far the most wasteful country. On average, each American consumes as much as 32 Kenyans.

As for the species, every year 53 mammals, amphibians, and birds are moved a category closer to becoming extinct.The more humans there are, the less there will be of everything else.

So what’s the solution?

I remember thinking when I was little how barbaric the Chinese government was to limit the number of babies per household. But, maybe they had a point. On average, the American family has 2.5 children. This automatically increases the population because the number of kids is more than the two parents. Journalist Steven Kotler was quoted as saying that, “There should be a five year ban on anyone having babies because the Earth has reached its carrying capacity. A billion less people would be a great place to start.”

Limiting the number of children people are allowed to have is a very touchy subject. Many people argue that humans are put on Earth to procreate, and do to otherwise would upset God’s will.

But, it’s not solely the United Sates population that is the problem. We might indirectly promote big families with popular shows like “John and Kate Plus Eight” and “19 Kids and Counting,” but we aren’t the only contributors to overpopulation. The brunt of the youth bulge is a fault of the underdeveloped and undereducated countries. It’s a common belief that we must solve poverty in third world countries to tackle overpopulation. We must enlighten women so that they’re aware of their choices in life. Educate them about birth control, and ensue that they have access to it.

“The question becomes not ‘how do we persuade others to have [fewer] kids,’ but rather how do we empower women around the world to lead the lives they want to lead–including having however many, or few, children they want,” advised Sami Grover on his blog, ‘Can Parents Still Worry About Overpopulation?’

Maybe you are one of five, or plan on having a big family. This article is not meant to accuse anyone personally, but just remember that by the time you have read this, the population has increased by 163, 164, 165…