10 interesting facts about population control in ancient Greece reveal a surprisingly sophisticated mix of herbal remedies, legal edicts, and cultural practices that shaped family size in the classical world.

10 Interesting Facts Overview

10 Silphium

There is abundant documentary evidence that the Greeks were well‑acquainted with the contraceptive virtues of a modest tree called silphium, belonging to the Ferula genus. This botanical marvel was both discovered and commercialised by Greek colonists in Cyrene, a coastal settlement on today’s Libyan shoreline near Shahhat.

Attempts to transplant silphium beyond Cyrene proved futile; the species could not survive elsewhere. Overharvesting drove the plant to extinction, and by the first century AD it had become a luxury item due to its scarcity. The final historical reference we possess dates to the fourth century AD.

Modern experimental work with extracts from related Ferula species has demonstrated contraceptive efficacy in animal models when the preparation is administered within three days of mating. This suggests that silphium may have functioned as an ancient herbal “morning‑after” pill, much like the modern versions marketed today (Wilson 2006: 182).

9 Magical Procedures

In the Hellenic world, magical concoctions, spells, amulets, and incantations were thought to influence both fertility and contraception. Strangely enough, the testicles of a weasel were believed to work in opposite directions.

According to the ancient Greek compilation known as the Cyranides (section 2.7), the right testicle of a weasel “reduced to ashes and mixed in a paste with myrrh” was thought to promote conception when inserted into a woman’s vagina on a small woolen ball before intercourse.

The contraceptive counterpart employed the left testicle, “wrapped in mule skin and attached to the woman.” Because the source does not detail precisely how the testicle should be affixed, modern scholars cannot confirm or refute the efficacy of this curious practice (McKeown 2013: 35).

8 Male Contraception

Some ancient writers mention a plant dubbed periklymenon that was reputed to act as a male contraceptive, though modern scholars have yet to identify the exact species. The eminent Greek physician Galen reported that athletes chewed the chaste tree to prevent erections, and other sources claim that priests gnawed its leaves to dampen sexual desire (Wilson 2006: 182).

Contemporary laboratory tests of chaste‑tree extract on dogs have shown it can suppress sperm production effectively. While coitus interruptus (withdrawal) was also known, the scanty textual evidence makes it difficult to gauge how widely this method was practiced.

7 Abortion

Abortion was a familiar procedure in ancient Greece. While Greek physicians possessed both surgical and chemical means to terminate a pregnancy, literary sources indicate that surgical interventions were discouraged because of the danger they posed to the mother.

Socrates, whose mother was a midwife, remarks in Plato’s Theaetetus (149d) that midwives could, with “drugs and incantations,” cause a miscarriage if they chose to. Ancient medical texts list several plants used to abort early pregnancies, including rue, pennyroyal, myrrh, juniper, and birthwort.

Although abortion sparked controversy in certain city‑states, there is no clear evidence that it was a punishable offense. Medical writings suggest that the practice was especially prevalent among prostitutes (Wilson 2006: 1).

6 Infanticide

Infanticide functioned as a recognized family‑planning tool. Legally, a child received little protection until the amphidromia ceremony, during which the father officially named the newborn.

Consequently, a child could be killed without legal repercussions or moral outcry at any point before this naming ritual. Moreover, several Greek law codes expressly permitted infanticide under particular circumstances.

The phrase “infant exposure” (the act of leaving the infant outdoors) appears in ancient sources, likely serving as a euphemism for infanticide. The outcome of such abandonment was either death or adoption by a third party (Hornblower and Spawforth 2012: 735). Tales of exposed infants—Oedipus, Paris, Telephus—underscore the prevalence of this practice, although precise rates remain difficult to determine.

5 Deformed Infants

A particularly stark form of infanticide is documented in Sparta. According to Plutarch’s “Life of Lycurgus” (16), every newborn was presented to the elders for assessment:

If the infant was well‑built and sturdy, the father was ordered to rear it…; but if it was ill‑born and deformed, it was sent to the so‑called Apothetae, a chasm at the foot of Mount Taygetus, because a life not equipped with health and strength was deemed of no benefit to either the child or the state.

Sparta was not unique in this regard. Aristotle, in Book 7 of his Politics, advocated for a law forbidding the survival of deformed children: “As to the exposure and rearing of children, let there be a law that no deformed child shall live.” The Roman Law of the Twelve Tables (Table 4, 1) likewise prescribed immediate death for notably deformed infants.

4 Homosexuality

Scholar William Percy has argued that the encouragement of same‑sex relations in ancient Greece—especially the institutionalized Athenian pederasty—served as a mechanism for limiting population growth. Aristotle (Politics 2.1272a 22‑24) made a similar claim regarding Cretan pederasty, suggesting it was intended to curb demographic expansion.

While it is impossible to confirm that Greek societies consciously promoted homosexuality as a demographic policy, it is reasonable to assume that an increase in same‑sex encounters would naturally reduce the frequency of heterosexual intercourse, thereby lowering birth rates.

Thus, homosexuality may have functioned as an inadvertent form of population control—not a deliberately crafted strategy, but a side effect of cultural practices that limited procreative activity (Wilson 2006: 127).

3 Legal Regulations

Various aspects of population management were codified into law across Greek city‑states. In Gortyn, a central Cretan city, inscriptions dating to around 450 BC detail statutes governing family size and infant exposure (Hornblower and Spawforth 2012: 623‑735).

The Gortyn code (3, 43‑48) permitted infant exposure under certain conditions: “If a divorced wife bears a child, it must be brought to the husband in the presence of three witnesses; if he refuses, the mother may either rear or expose the child.”

Interestingly, the same code (4, 9‑13) imposed fines on women who exposed a child prematurely: fifty stater for a free child, twenty‑five stater for a slave. In Thebes, the law prohibited infanticide outright, yet allowed impoverished parents to sell their children.

2 Mortality And Life Expectancy

War stood out as the chief cause of adult male mortality, though maternal, neonatal, and infant deaths were also alarmingly high. No reliable demographic statistics survive, but scholars have proposed a wide range of estimates: maternal mortality may have ranged from 5 per 20,000 births (likely an underestimate) to 25 per 1,000 births, varying by region and era (Hornblower and Spawforth 2014: 161, 617).

Forensic analyses of Classical Greek burial sites suggest infant mortality hovered around 30 percent, based on data from Olyntus in northern Greece—though the representativeness of the sample remains uncertain.

The Greeks coined the term amphithales (“blooming on both sides”) to describe a child whose both parents were still alive. The very existence of such a specific word hints at a generally low life expectancy (McKeown 2013: 16).

1 Miscellaneous Birth Control Methods

Ancient texts record a variety of additional contraceptive tricks that defy easy classification and whose effectiveness remains dubious. In the first century AD, the Greek physician Dioscorides advised anointing the male organ with cedar gum and applying alum to the uterus, believing this would render the womb inhospitable to the male seed.

Other suggested practices included a suppository made of peppermint and honey applied before intercourse, and a peppery pessary used after sexual activity to “dry out” the uterus, thereby making it hostile to a developing fetus.

There’s a classic saying that the world is “a small place,” but anyone who’s ever stared at a globe knows that’s a myth. In reality, our planet is massive, home to roughly 8.1 billion souls, with India and China alone accounting for more than a third of that total. Yet beyond those headline numbers lies a trove of quirky, eyebrow‑raising facts about how people are spread across the Earth. Below you’ll find ten of the most astonishing, off‑the‑beaten‑path statistics that illustrate just how strange our global population really is.

10 Strange Statistics About Population

Loch Ness stretches 22 miles (about 35.4 km) in length, reaches a width of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) at its broadest point, and plunges to depths exceeding 850 feet (260 m). Its sheer volume means that, if the water were magically removed, the basin could comfortably accommodate the entire world’s population many times over – essentially ten or more copies of every human on Earth could be squeezed inside.

The loch holds an estimated 263 billion cubic feet (roughly 7.5 billion cubic metres) of water. That amount surpasses the combined water volume of all lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across Scotland, England, and Wales. In certain spots, Loch Ness is twice as deep as the deepest section of the North Sea, underscoring just how massive this single body of water truly is.

9 Switzerland’s Abundant Nuclear Shelters

While the United Nations works tirelessly to prevent nuclear conflict, many nations have taken precautionary steps to safeguard their citizens. Switzerland, ever the pragmatist, has mandated that every building – from private homes to schools and hospitals – include a fallout shelter capable of protecting all occupants. The Swiss understand that neutrality alone won’t shield them from radioactive fallout should a nuclear exchange erupt.

What sets Swiss shelters apart is their almost luxurious design: they resemble underground apartments, complete with sophisticated air‑filtration systems, backup power generators, and sizable water tanks. Properly maintained, these shelters can support life for months, even years. They’re not abandoned relics; they’re regularly restocked and kept ready for immediate use.

8 Finland’s Uncompromising Love of Saunas

Sauna culture runs deep in Finland, where a population of about 5.5 million enjoys roughly three million saunas – roughly one sauna for every two people. Originating from post‑Ice‑Age settlements that heated pits covered with animal skins, the Finnish sauna evolved into a cornerstone of daily life, providing both warmth and a ritual of cleansing.

Public saunas are abundant, many of them free of charge and open 24 hours a day, year‑round. Finns have turned sauna‑time into a playful sport: after a steaming session they dash into the snow, or plunge into icy water, then return to the heat – a cycle that boosts mood and contributes to Finland’s reputation as one of the world’s happiest nations.

7 If Manhattan’s Population Density Equaled Alaska’s

Manhattan packs a staggering 72,918 people per square mile (28,154 per square kilometre), translating to roughly 1.69 million residents squeezed into just 22.83 square miles (59.13 km²). This dense island is a global hub for finance, culture, and tourism, home to iconic locations like Broadway, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, and Central Park.

Contrast that with Alaska’s sparse 1.3 people per square mile. If Manhattan were to adopt Alaska’s ultra‑low density, its population would shrink dramatically – only about 32 people would inhabit the entire borough, a stark illustration of how density shapes urban life.

6 China Has 65 Million Empty Houses

China’s rapid urbanisation gave rise to “ghost cities” – entire municipalities built but never populated. While the nation strives to provide housing for its booming populace, real‑estate has also become a favored investment, prompting authorities to construct massive new districts in anticipation of future demand.

One notorious example is Ordos New Town (also known as Kangbashi) in Inner Mongolia. Designed to accommodate a million residents, the futuristic city boasts gleaming skyscrapers, sprawling shopping centres, and modern infrastructure. Yet, when the anticipated coal‑driven growth slowed, the population never materialised, leaving the city eerily empty.

The region’s coal boom in the early 2000s attracted private mining firms, which in turn drove local farmers to sell their land at inflated prices. With new jobs and wealth flowing in, officials embarked on an ambitious building spree – erecting apartments, offices, and commercial spaces at breakneck speed.

However, as global energy shifted toward greener alternatives, the coal surge waned. Construction continued, but without the promised influx of workers, the city’s streets remain largely deserted, a stark reminder of over‑optimistic planning.

Today, Ordos stands as China’s largest ghost town, a concrete skeleton of what could have been – a cautionary tale of speculative development gone awry.

5 A Huge Island with Little Population

Greenland holds the distinction of being the world’s biggest island. Its earliest inhabitants were Paleo‑Inuit peoples who trekked from North America across the frozen Thule Strait, later joined by Viking explorers around the year 1000. After the Vikings abandoned the island, successive waves of Inuit migrants settled, shaping the culture we see today.

Although Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral district of Denmark, its sheer size belies a minuscule population density – roughly 0.36 people per square mile (0.14 per km²). This sparse settlement pattern makes it one of the least populated large landmasses on Earth.

To put that into perspective, Hong Kong boasts a density of 17,485 people per square mile (6,751 per km²), yet it occupies a land area nearly 2,000 times smaller than Greenland. The contrast highlights how an enormous territory can be almost empty, while a tiny city can be bustling with life.

4 A Japanese Town Has More Scarecrows Than Humans

Nagoro, a tranquil village nestled in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku island, is home to a dwindling, aging population. In response to the steady decline, resident Ayano Tsukimi took a creative approach: he hand‑crafted over 350 scarecrows, each dressed in colourful clothing and positioned throughout the community.

These aren’t the typical straw‑filled figures meant to deter birds. Instead, they resemble miniature townsfolk, complete with hats, jackets, and even newspaper‑clad accessories. Tsukimi’s project was born out of a desire to fill the void left by departing neighbours, giving the village a whimsical, human‑like presence.

Remarkably, the ratio of scarecrows to actual residents stands at ten‑to‑one, meaning for every living person in Nagoro there are ten of these charming, stationary companions keeping the streets lively.

3 Where Men Really Outnumber the Woman

Globally, the gender balance hovers close to parity, with an average of 1.02 males per female at birth, tapering to 0.78 males per female among those over 65. However, Qatar breaks this pattern dramatically.

Rich in hydrocarbon resources, Qatar boasts the world’s third‑largest energy reserves. Its thriving economy has attracted a massive influx of male labour migrants from neighbouring countries, drawn by high‑paying construction and service jobs.

Because the immigration system prioritises skill and employment over gender balance, men now outnumber women in Qatar by a striking 2.87 to 1. This skewed ratio makes Qatar one of the most male‑dominated nations on the planet.

2 Monaco’s Millionaires

Imagine walking down a street where every third passerby could afford a private jet. That’s everyday life in Monaco, a sovereign city‑state perched on the French Riviera. With a resident count of just 38,682, the principality is renowned for its opulent lifestyle and sky‑high cost of living.

Astoundingly, one in three Monaco residents is a millionaire. This extraordinary concentration of wealth means even service workers – janitors, handymen, and the like – often possess personal fortunes that would be enviable elsewhere.

1 Everyone Living in One Space

Whittier, a modest Alaskan town perched at the head of Passage Canal, sits about 58 miles (93 km) southeast of Anchorage. While Alaska spans a massive 663,268 square miles (1.7 million km²) with a sparse overall density of 1.3 people per square mile, Whittier presents a unique living arrangement.

The community is accessed by a single, 2.5‑mile (4 km) dual‑purpose tunnel – the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel – which serves both vehicles and trains. This tunnel, often closed after 10:30 p.m. and sometimes blocked by up to 22 feet (6.7 m) of snow in winter, is the only road in and out of town.

All 272 residents share one building: the 14‑story Begich Towers. This high‑rise houses every family, business, and public service under one roof, earning Whittier the nickname “town under one roof.” It’s a rare example of an entire community coexisting within a single structure.

Despite what the song “It’s a Small World” tells us, the world is pretty big. We’ve managed to fit eight billion people on it, and that’s impressive — bordering on unsettling. There’s a lot to know about that population as well, in terms of where they’re all located, how they’re spread out, and where else you could fit them if you wanted to get creative. If you’ve never looked into the fun you can have with population density facts, get ready for it! These are 10 staggering facts that will blow your mind.

10 Staggering Facts Overview

10 Loch Ness Could Hold the Entire World’s Population Several Times

Scotland is famous for kilts, haggis, and a lake monster. Loch Ness isn’t just the rumored home of a prehistoric creature that only shows up in blurry photos; it’s actually big enough to hold everyone on the planet.

One of the supposed problems with finding the monster is the fact the loch is just so massive. To make that size more relatable, the loch contains 268 billion cubic feet of water. It’s roughly 800 feet deep and spans 22 square miles. In plain English, you could cram every single person on Earth into the space that Loch Ness occupies – and then you could do it nine more times. When the global population was a modest 7.3 billion, you could have fit them in 15 times over.

So, if you ever doubt whether there’s a monster lurking beneath the surface, just remember the sheer volume you’re dealing with.

9 Kowloon Walled City Had the Densest Population in the World

Before we dive into modern megacities, let’s talk about the most densely packed city ever – Kowloon Walled City, which existed until 1994 before being demolished. Imagine a place where people were constantly irritated by the sheer closeness of everyone around them.

Kowloon Walled City sat inside Hong Kong and, as its name suggests, was literally a city within a wall. Buildings were stacked on top of each other until the scene resembled a sci‑fi dystopia. In that cramped block, 33,000 people squeezed into a single city block. That translates to a density of 1.2 million per square kilometre (or 3.2 million per square mile). By comparison, New York City’s density hovers just above 25,000 per square mile.

Kowloon never truly fell under British administration, turning it into a law‑less enclave where residents could build wherever they wanted. Without regulations, people glued houses together, tore down walls, and built upward and outward. The result was a maze of ramshackle corridors and stairways that left inhabitants cut off from the outside world.

When Britain and China finally agreed on the city’s fate, some residents had to be forcefully removed before the whole area was razed and replaced with gardens, parks, and open spaces.

8 Switzerland Has Nuclear Shelters for Its Entire Population

Nobody wants to experience a nuclear war, but if it ever happens, you’d hope there’s a way to survive. In the past, individuals sometimes built their own fallout shelters, and governments keep some on standby. But what about the average citizen?

If you call home to Switzerland, you can relax. The whole nation can fit inside its fallout shelters because the Swiss are famously prepared. By Swiss law, any building owner must provide a shelter that can house every resident in that building – whether it’s a house or an apartment block.

By 2006, the country boasted 300,000 private shelters plus 5,100 public ones. That capacity can protect 8.6 million people, or 114 % of the nation’s population. In contrast, Sweden’s shelters only cover about 81 % of its citizens.

Since no one has needed to use them yet, many of these shelters double as wine cellars. Still, they remain ready to shield the entire population from a nuclear winter if the need ever arises.

7 The Population of Whittier, Alaska Live in the Same Building

Alaska boasts breathtaking scenery, but it’s not the friendliest place during certain seasons. Venture far enough north and you’ll encounter freezing temperatures where the sun disappears for days. Yet people still manage, especially in Whittier.

Whittier’s only road in and out often shuts down in winter because of its 22 feet of annual snowfall. The tunnel is a single lane and is closed at night, leaving the sea as the only alternative – which can also become impassable. Residents have adapted by essentially living under one roof.

Close to 200 people reside in a single 14‑story building that used to be a military barracks. Inside the structure you’ll find the post office, a bed & breakfast, a grocery store, and even a police station. Kids reach the local school through an underground tunnel.

6 Everyone in Finland Could Pair Up and Take a Sauna at the Same Time

Finland practically lives in saunas. The Finns love them as much as Canadians love donut shops. The whole nation, about 5.5 million strong, boasts roughly three million saunas.

If you’re unsure what a sauna entails, picture a scorching, steamy room where you sit naked (or with a towel or swimsuit) and sweat it out. You can go solo, with friends, or even with strangers – the experience is just heat, steam, and nudity. Occasionally you’ll see someone scrubbing a stranger’s back if asked.

Some Finns spice things up by dashing out into the snow after a hot session, or plunging into icy water – but that’s optional. Almost every apartment complex includes a sauna, and many large businesses have them on site. By the numbers, there are enough saunas for every Finnish person to grab a buddy and enjoy a two‑person sauna simultaneously, with plenty left over for visitors.

5 If Manhattan Had the Same Population Density as Alaska, 29 People Would Live There

To illustrate how wildly population density can differ within a single country, let’s compare two extremes in a playful way. Manhattan, New York, boasts a sky‑high density of roughly 70,000 people per square mile for its 1.6 million residents. That means Manhattan covers about 22.83 square miles.

Alaska, on the other hand, has a sparse density of only 1.28 residents per square mile. If Manhattan were to adopt Alaska’s density, the entire borough would be home to merely 29 people – each enjoying an absurdly generous slice of prime real estate.

4 Le Lignon Is an Apartment Building with a Population Density Similar to Manhattan

Speaking of Manhattan, Switzerland boasts a massive residential complex called Le Lignon that shares a similar density. Both pack people in at comparable rates.

Constructed in the late 1960s, Le Lignon isn’t exactly a beauty queen, but it carries a distinctly Euro‑dystopian vibe as one of the largest housing projects ever built. The kilometer‑long structure houses 6,800 residents across 2,780 apartments.

Born out of a housing crisis, the complex divides opinion: some love its community feel, while outsiders deem the 10‑million‑square‑foot beast an eyesore. Inside, however, residents enjoy pleasant views, spacious living quarters, and a strong sense of community that feels more like a small town than a single building.

The monolithic structure is flanked by identical towers, and its design accommodates numerous amenities – schools, shops, a medical centre, and even a rooftop pool. A four‑room apartment can set you back roughly 2,000 Swiss francs per month (about $2,300 US).

3 Canada’s Territory of Nunavut Has the Lowest Population Density of Any State or Province in the World

We already know Alaska is sparsely populated, but Nunavut in Canada actually takes the crown for the lowest density among all recognized sub‑national regions worldwide – even beating out Greenland.

Nunavut, perched in northern Canada, records a density of 0.02 people per square kilometre (or 0.05 per square mile), a figure often rounded down to essentially zero. By comparison, Greenland sits at 0.14 people per square kilometre.

The territory’s capital, Iqaluit, houses just 7,740 residents. The whole of Nunavut is home to just under 37,000 people, yet it spans an enormous 808,000 square miles – larger than Alaska, more than three times the size of Texas, and almost five times the size of California.

2 Friendship Heights Village in Maryland Is the Most Densely Populated US City

If you guessed that the United States’ most densely packed place would be a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles, think again. Those cities have large populations, but they also cover huge areas, which dilutes overall density.

The true champion of density in America is the modest town of Friendship Heights Village, Maryland. In 2020, it housed 5,360 residents – not a staggering number, but the town’s footprint is minuscule, covering only 0.06 square miles. That results in a mind‑boggling density of 90,847.5 people per square mile.

The population dipped slightly in 2021, nudging the density a touch higher, but the town still leaves every other U.S. location in the dust.

1 Dhaka, Bangladesh Slums May Have a Population Density of Over 2 Million Per Square Mile

We already saw the jaw‑dropping density of Kowloon Walled City, but today’s urban jungles can rival that intensity. While entire cities might not reach those extremes, certain neighborhoods certainly do – take the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Estimates suggest the population density in Dhaka’s slums could soar as high as 2.7 million people per square mile. Even the more conservative figures place it at 115,000 per square mile, still eclipsing the densities of megacities like Tokyo, Manila, and Mumbai. Some calculations peg the number at 569,000 per square mile (or 220,000 per square kilometre).

Getting a precise count is challenging because slums are irregular, often lack formal housing, and residents may avoid census takers. Nonetheless, the sheer scale of human concentration in these pockets is staggering.