Man’s best friend might end up replacing him, that is if we keep it up. It’s only natural given that humans have seemingly created an environment uniquely hostile to ourselves. As we careen into the second half of 2024, the cost of housing and sustenance remains untenable for many who face days clouded by long hours and low pay. Hence the heralding of the Maltese.
Countries across the globe are facing population declines; as health journal The Lancet predicted, 97% of them will eventually have fertility rates too low to sustain their size. Such concerns are especially pronounced in South Korea, where the fertility rate dwindled to the lowest in the world at 0.72 as of 2023. The rate is well below the 2.1 figure needed to maintain a stable population.
