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There are now 8 billion people on the earth, and the growth rate is steadily slowing down since people are living longer and are having fewer children.
Key Points
- Tuesday marked the day the earth reached 8 billion people, representing a milestone in human development.
- The global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, having fallen under 1 percent in 2020.
- India, by next year, will lead the world’s population, surpassing China.
- The increase in population reflects the advancements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine and high and persistent levels of fertility in some countries.
- Asia accounts for most of the growth, adding some 700 million people in 2011. India added about 180 million people.
- U.N. predicts the world population will reach 9 billion in 2037.
- It is also projected the global population will hit 10.4 billion people in the 2080s and remain at that level until 2100.
- Population shift is expected before the peak, with a concentration on sub-Saharan Africa, moving away from China and India.
Why it matters
Experts say the increase in population also means more pressure on nature and the effects of climate change will expand causing mass migration and conflicts in the coming years.