The United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs has said that it expects the world population to reach 8 billion people on November 15th this year, marking a landmark in human population growth.
The UN’s 'World Population Prospects' report also says that in 2023 India will overtake China as the most populated country on Earth. At India’s last census, in 2011, the population was 1.2 billion, however this year’s census is expected to show this has risen significantly.
However, despite the massive rise in population, the UN report also found that in most places in the world, the population was actually beginning to fall, and that deaths were more common than births. 61 countries expected to see their population fall between 2022 and 2050, while 8 other countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania, are expected to account for much of any new growth.
The report goes on to say that by 2100 only Africa will have experienced population growth relative to 2023, while every other continent will see the human population decline.
Populations and the number of children born to a family tend to decline rapidly as the wealth of a country increases, while this is a positive it can also cause long-term issues such as providing pensions and care for the elderly, difficulties already being experienced in countries like Japan.
Liu Zhenmin, U.N. undersecretary general for Economic and Social Affairs, said of the report:
"Rapid population growth makes eradicating poverty, combating hunger and malnutrition, and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult. Conversely, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, will contribute to reducing fertility levels and slowing global population growth."
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, life expectancy in many countries has declined, though this is expected to recover over the coming years. Covid is also expected to have resulted in lower birth rates given the isolation of lockdowns over the past 2 years.
[Based on reporting by: MSN]
COMMENTS