New York, US: The United Nations (UN) reports that the world has reached 8 billion people on the planet just 11 years after surpassing the seven billion mark. Population growth is already going down after a significant uptick in the middle of the 20th century.
According to World Population Prospects 2022, India will overtake China as the world’s most populated nation in 2023. The global organisation acknowledges that it is difficult to estimate the world’s population accurately and that its estimates may be off by one or two years.
In line with the United Nations’ most recent report, the world’s population may reach 8.5 billion people in 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. The population is predicted to peak at 10.4 billion people in the 2080s and stay there until 2100.
This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.
UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres remarked.
“At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” Mr. Guterres added.
In the World Population Prospects 2022, fertility has decreased significantly in many nations during the past few decades. Currently, two-thirds of the world’s population reside in regions or nations with lifetime fertility rates below 2.1 births per woman, or roughly the number needed for a population with low mortality to experience long-term growth of zero. Between 2022 and 2050, it is predicted that the populations of 61 countries or regions would decline by 1 per cent or more. This is due to persistently low fertility rates and, in some cases, high emigration rates.
Eight nations including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the United Republic of Tanzania will account for more than half of the expected growth in the world’s population by 2050. More than half of the increase forecast through 2050 is anticipated to come from sub-Saharan African nations.
The three elements of population change have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the average life expectancy at birth declined to 71 years. While there is minimal evidence of an impact on fertility levels or trends in many other nations, it is possible that some countries saw short-term decreases in the number of births and pregnancies as a result of the pandemic’s multiple waves. All types of human mobility, including international migration, were severely constrained by the epidemic.