Malthus and Doomsday

[htfb]

Arthur C Clarke began the foreword to 2001, A Space Odyssey:
"Behind every man alive stand thirty ghosts: for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living"
This was actually true in 1945. By the time 2001 was published, in 1968, the figure was twenty. In 2001, twelve. Today, according to the UN tool the BBC have put online, below ten

Comments

[glittertigger]

Interesting figures - thanks.

[anonymous]

I initially read that as 'thirsty ghosts', which would have been unusually poetic for Arthursey Clarke.

[htfb]

I've just formed a guess: might you be the Whittlesey Clerk?