Infamous 'Population Bomb' Author Paul Ehrlich Dies at 93

New York Times criticized for downplaying Ehrlich's failed predictions that caused harm

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:05pm

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Paul Ehrlich, the ecologist whose 1968 book "The Population Bomb" popularized the idea of a global population crisis leading to mass famine and starvation, died on Friday at the age of 93. While Ehrlich's dire predictions never materialized, the New York Times was criticized online for describing his work as merely "premature" rather than outright wrong.

Why it matters

Ehrlich's predictions had a significant impact, leading some to avoid having children and inspiring policies of forced sterilization and abortion in vulnerable populations. His ideas were widely amplified by the media despite being thoroughly disproven over time, raising questions about the responsibility of journalists in spreading potentially harmful misinformation.

The details

In "The Population Bomb," Ehrlich argued that the Earth's natural resources were being depleted at such a rate that the global population would crash. However, the actual population more than doubled from 3.5 billion when the book was published to 8.3 billion by 2026, directly contradicting Ehrlich's predictions. Many online criticized the New York Times for describing Ehrlich's work as merely "premature" rather than acknowledging it was simply wrong.

  • Paul Ehrlich died on Friday, March 15, 2026.
  • "The Population Bomb" was published in 1968.
  • The global population grew from 3.5 billion in 1968 to 8.3 billion by 2026.

The players

Paul Ehrlich

An ecologist who authored the 1968 book "The Population Bomb," which popularized the idea of a global population crisis leading to mass famine and starvation.

The New York Times

A major American newspaper that was criticized for downplaying Ehrlich's failed predictions in its coverage of his death.

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What they’re saying

“Wrong. His predictions proved wrong. They were not premature. They were wrong. His understanding of the world was wrong. Faulty. Unrealistic. False. Falsified.”

— John Aziz, Data scientist (Twitter)

“Its [sic] stunning not just how wrong Ehrlich was ... or how evil he was ... but how constantly our media amplified him and is still covering for his endless failed predictions.”

— Andrew Follett, Club for Growth (Twitter)

“I was a college student when I read Mr. Ehrlich's 'The Population Bomb.' I took it to heart and now have no grandchildren, but 50 years later the population has increased to eight billion without dire consequences. I was gullible and stupid.”

— Kenneth Emde (Comments section)

What’s next

The legacy and impact of Ehrlich's work will likely continue to be debated in the coming years as researchers and policymakers examine how influential yet flawed predictions can shape public discourse and decision-making.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater scrutiny and accountability when it comes to sensational claims about the future, especially those that can influence personal and policy decisions with far-reaching consequences. The media's role in amplifying and legitimizing such predictions, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, also deserves closer examination.