On Friday, the ecologist known for some of history’s most controversial global forecasts passed away, but the New York Times chose to highlight his anti-population claims.
Paul Ehrlich gained fame through his 1968 bestseller, The Population Bomb, where he warned of impending mass starvation due to overpopulation and resource depletion.
But, well, his predictions… they were ultimately incorrect. They weren’t just a bit off; they missed the mark entirely. His grasp of the situation was flawed.
In fact, the global population has more than doubled. By 2026, estimates suggest it will increase from around 3.5 billion when he wrote his book to 8.3 billion.
While many would label Ehrlich’s forewarnings as a monumental failure, the Times referred to them as merely “premature.”
Unsurprisingly, this triggered backlash on social media.
“He was wrong. Not just wrong; he was profoundly mistaken. It wasn’t a matter of timing. He was simply wrong. His view of reality was skewed,” said data scientist John Aziz in response to the article.
Another user, Andrew Follett from Club for Growth, expressed disbelief: “It’s astonishing to contemplate how wrong Ehrlich was—not just misguided, but how the media continues to amplify his failed predictions.”
There were also stories shared about individuals who refrained from having children because of Ehrlich’s teachings, only to deeply regret that choice later on.
“Paul Ehrlich was undeniably one of the most harmful public figures of the last half-century. It’s remarkable how he still maintains respect in some intellectual circles,” noted Alec Stapp.
Kenneth Emde reflected on his personal experience: “I was in college when I first read The Population Bomb. I took those ideas to heart, and now, decades later, I regret it—no grandchildren, and the population has hit 8 billion without any catastrophic fallout. I was naive, really.”
Urban planner M. Nolan Gray weighed in, stating, “Ehrlich’s work wasn’t just ‘premature.’ It was fundamentally flawed and had severe consequences. His suggestions resulted in numerous forced sterilizations and abortions among the most vulnerable.”
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“Ehrlich’s predictions from the 1960s and 1970s weren’t just off—they were dangerous, and his Malthusian views inflicted immense societal harm. He promoted abortion and stringent population control policies,” science policy analyst Chris Mertz remarked. “Unfortunately, many took his advice to heart and chose not to have children. Yet, there are climate activists who still cling to his words.”
Ehrlich passed away at 93 in a Palo Alto nursing home due to complications from cancer.
