Headline from the Financial Times Aug. 24, 2005: page 3
"Shrinking Population - Number of Japanese falls ahead of expectations"
"Deaths exceeded births in Japan by 31,000 in the first six months of this year, raising the
prospect the number of people in the world's second biggest economy has started shrinking
two years earlier than expected" This, in a small part , is why Japan has lost about 500
congregations in less than a decade.
The Population Explosion is rapidly turning into population deflation in France, Germany, Italy
Spain, Taiwan, Poland, Czech Republic, China, South Korea, North Korea, Russia
Slovakia, Tunisia and the U.K. as their fertility rates fall below replacement levels.
Birth rates have rapidly dropped in South America and Arab states. You may be surprized
to see Brazil and Mexico below replacement levels soon!
Given that the door to door work is highly unproductive - and they are losing young Witnesses
- I'd say Watchtower growth will be very difficult. On the other hand, look for them to emphasize
converting immigrants and getting dying Witnesses to bequeath them money!
metatron