Well, hello there! Our dear world hit a whopping 8 billion population Tuesday, November 15, according to facts from United Nations . This news is coming in the face of climate change, insecurity, food scarcity, and plummeting growth rates.
Do you want to know what this new milestone means for everyone and our planet?
Keep reading for the details.
11 Years After
The new mark is coming just 11 years after it was reported that the world had hit 7 billion population. This increase can be traced to extended life expectancy rates made possible by incredible advances in areas of public health, nutrition, and sanitation.
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Further Predictions
The UN also estimated that this population could increase to 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050, and a massive 10.4 billion by the 2080s, then expected to remain steady at least until 2100.
However, some researchers from the University of Washington are refuting these estimates , citing that the world’s population will be lower than it is today by 2100 and stay between 6.3 – 8 billion people.
Equal Access To Opportunity? Maybe
Despite the significant progress made in every area of human life, everyone still needs equal access to opportunities, which might continue as we grow.
George Pyros is, however, coming up with a solution for this through investing in women and girls, maintaining diversity in research, and sticking to the guideline of UN SDGs, amongst many others.
India To Expect A Major Increase
Move over, China! Reports claim India’s population will increase to 1.515 billion in 2030, making it the most populous country in the world ahead of China which is currently leading. The UN also projected the two countries to occupy the first and second positions by the end of the century.
Most Populous Countries In 2030
Other countries expected to join the growing list and experience significant population increase in 2030 include India, China, the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Russia.
Covid-19
In the report, the UN stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all components of population change like mortality, migration, and fertility, making the global life expectancy fall to 71 years in 2021, from 73 in 2019.
Fate Of Sub-Saharan Africa
While the report predicts a fall in population for China, countries of Sub-Saharan Africa like Congo, Nigeria, and Ethiopia are projected to experience an influx of technology and population advancement throughout 2100.
The U.S. In 2050
As for the United States, the reports said it’ll no longer be the world’s third most populous country by 2050 as it’ll give way to Nigeria and sit in fourth place with about 375 million people.
Life Expectancy
The UN further reported that life expectancies will increase from 72.98 in 2019 to 77.2 in 2050. The proportion of people aged 65 will increase from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050.
