Recent social media posts have falsely claimed that the World Economic Forum (WEF) published a document predicting the deaths of 6 billion people by 2025. This misinformation has been thoroughly debunked by Reuters fact-checkers, who found no evidence to support these alarming assertions.
The false claims originated from an article published by The People's Voice on August 22, 2023. This website, previously fact-checked by Reuters, made unsubstantiated allegations about a supposed WEF report and comments by Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF.
A WEF spokesperson categorically denied these claims, stating, "The World Economic Forum does not support nor advocate for depopulation." They further emphasized that such allegations are "baseless and rooted in disinformation."
The WEF, founded in 1971, is headquartered in Cologny, Switzerland, and is known for its annual meeting in Davos. Over the years, it has introduced influential concepts such as "stakeholder capitalism" and the "Fourth Industrial Revolution." Despite its prominence, the organization has faced criticism and become the subject of various conspiracy theories.
The People's Voice article cited a forecast from Deagel.com, an aggregator of military equipment news. This forecast, made in 2020, predicted a population decline of approximately 478.8 million people across 183 countries by 2025 – significantly less than the claimed 6 billion. Importantly, Deagel.com's forecast does not reference the WEF and includes a disclaimer stating it is "nothing more than a model whether flawed or correct."
It's worth noting that the WEF publishes the annual "Global Risks Report" and has special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. The organization's motto, "Committed to Improving the State of the World," reflects its stated mission, which contrasts sharply with the false depopulation claims.
The misinformation also incorrectly attributed ownership of Deagel.com to Dr. Edwin A. Deagle Jr., a U.S. army veteran who passed away in 2024, three years ago from today's date.
This fact-check serves as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking and verifying information from reliable sources. The WEF, with over 1,000 member companies and partnerships with major international organizations, continues to be a subject of public interest and scrutiny. However, it's crucial to distinguish between factual information and baseless conspiracy theories.
"Claims linking the Forum to depopulation conspiracies are baseless and rooted in disinformation."
As part of its ongoing efforts to provide accurate information, the WEF maintains the Strategic Intelligence platform, offering insights on various global issues. This platform, along with the organization's other initiatives like the Global Shapers Community and Young Global Leaders program, demonstrates the WEF's focus on fostering leadership and addressing global challenges rather than promoting unfounded doomsday scenarios.