World’s population hits 8 billion, UN says – BBC News
TLDRThe global population is projected to reach 8 billion people by Tuesday, according to the United Nations. The population has doubled in less than 50 years and is expected to continue growing, with 9 billion projected by 2037 and 10 billion by 2058. Over half of the increase to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the population is set to double to 2 billion by 2050. Despite declining fertility rates, the population is expected to rise due to the large number of people in childbearing age and increased life expectancy. This growth will put pressure on resources such as food, water, and energy, and will have significant implications for society and the planet.
Takeaways
- 🌍 The global population is projected to reach 8 billion people, a landmark figure, according to the United Nations.
- 📈 The world's population has doubled in less than 50 years and continues to rise, highlighting the era of significant population growth.
- 🏞️ In 1800, there were around 1 billion people on Earth, and it took over a century for that number to double.
- 📊 The 20th century saw a rapid increase in population, reaching 3 billion in 1960 and adding nearly a billion each subsequent decade.
- 🔮 Future projections by the UN estimate 9 billion people by around 2037 and 10 billion by 2058, with a potential peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s.
- 🌐 More than half of the projected population increase to 2050 will occur in just eight countries, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- 🇮🇳 India and China are the most populous countries, each with over 1.4 billion people, with India expected to overtake China as the most populous next year.
- 📉 China's population, along with many other countries, is expected to decline sharply later this century due to declining global fertility rates.
- 👶 In 1950, the average number of children born to women was five, which has more than halved to 2.3 and is expected to fall further.
- 👵 The world's population is aging, with about one in ten people currently aged 65 or older, a figure projected to rise to almost one in six by 2050.
- 🌳 The growing population exerts increasing pressure on resources such as food, water, energy, and infrastructure, posing significant challenges for society and the planet.
Q & A
When is the global population projected to reach 8 billion people according to the United Nations?
-The global population is projected to reach 8 billion people on Tuesday, as mentioned in the transcript.
How long did it take for the world's population to double from 1 billion to 2 billion after 1800?
-It took over a century for the world's population to double from 1 billion to 2 billion after 1800.
What was the global population in 1960?
-The global population reached 3 billion in 1960.
What is the projected global population by 2037 according to the UN?
-The UN projects there will be 9 billion people by around 2037.
When is the global population expected to peak?
-The global population could peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s.
Which region is expected to almost double its population by 2050?
-The total population of sub-Saharan Africa is set to almost double to 2 billion by 2050.
What is the current average global life expectancy?
-The average global life expectancy reached almost 73 years in 2019.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected global life expectancy?
-COVID-19 pushed the average global life expectancy down by nearly two years.
What is the projected proportion of the world's population that will be 65 or older by 2050?
-By 2050, it is projected that almost one in six people on the planet will be 65 or older.
What is the historical average number of children women gave birth to in 1950?
-In 1950, women gave birth on average to five children.
How has global fertility changed since 1950?
-Global fertility has dramatically declined since 1950, with the average number of births per woman more than halved to 2.3 and expected to fall further.
What is one of the major challenges posed by the growing world population?
-The growing world population puts increasing pressure on resources such as food, water, energy, and infrastructure, leading to significant societal and environmental challenges.
Outlines
🌍 Global Population Reaches 8 Billion
The global population is projected to reach an all-time high of 8 billion people, according to the United Nations. This significant milestone comes as the world's population has doubled in less than 50 years and continues to rise. Historically, the growth has been exponential, with 1 billion in 1800, reaching 3 billion by 1960, and increasing by nearly a billion each decade thereafter. The UN forecasts a further rise to 9 billion by around 2037 and 10 billion by 2058, with a potential peak at 10.4 billion in the 2080s. More than half of the projected increase by 2050 will occur in just eight countries, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, which includes some of the world's least developed nations already facing food insecurity. The world's two most populous countries, India and China, both with over 1.4 billion people, are expected to see a decline in population later this century due to declining global fertility rates. Despite a drop in fertility from an average of 5 children per woman in 1950 to 2.3 births, the population continues to grow due to the large number of people in childbearing age. Additionally, increased life expectancy, which reached almost 73 years in 2019, contributes to population growth. However, the aging population, with one in ten currently 65 or older, will rise to one in six by 2050, placing a greater burden on the younger generation. The growing population also exerts pressure on resources such as food, water, energy, and infrastructure, posing significant challenges for society and the planet.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Global population
💡United Nations
💡Population growth
💡Fertility rate
💡Life expectancy
💡Sub-Saharan Africa
💡Food insecurity
💡India and China
💡Population decline
💡Aging population
💡Resource pressure
Highlights
The global population is projected to reach 8 billion people on Tuesday, an all-time high
The world's population has doubled in less than 50 years and is set to keep rising
There were around 1 billion people on Earth in 1800, and it took over a century for that to double
The population really took off in the 20th century, reaching 3 billion in 1960 and adding nearly a billion each decade after that
We are now set to hit 8 billion people on the planet
The UN projects there will be 9 billion people by around 2037 and 10 billion by 2058
The global population could peak at around 10.4 billion in the 2080s before declining in the next century
More than half the projected population increase to 2050 will be in just eight countries, half of them in sub-Saharan Africa
The total population of sub-Saharan Africa is set to almost double to 2 billion by 2050
India and China are the world's most populous countries, both home to more than 1.4 billion people
India will overtake China as the most populous country next year
China's population, along with many other countries, is set to fall sharply later this century
Global fertility is declining dramatically, with women giving birth to an average of 2.3 children, down from 5 in 1950
There are many people of childbearing age now, which explains why the global population will keep rising for much of this century
Average global life expectancy reached almost 73 years in 2019, up almost 9 years since 1990
COVID-19 pushed life expectancy down by nearly 2 years, but it is projected to keep rising
The world's population is aging, with one in ten people now 65 or older, projected to be one in six by 2050
This will put a greater burden on the young
Our growing population puts increasing pressure on resources like food, water, energy and infrastructure
These huge issues for society have lasting implications for our planet
Transcripts
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