The United Nations has in a report announced that the world’s population is set to climax to eight billion people on Tuesday. This means about one billion people would be added to the global population in a little over one decade – 12 years.
Driving the news
According to the UN report, Middle-income countries, especially in Asia, contributed a significant amount to the growth in the last decade, with about 700 million people since 2011. India alone added 180 million people, and is on track to surpass China as the world’s most populous nation in 2023.
- A keynote for observers as the global population reaches new heights will be that growth rate has fallen steadily to less than 1 percent per year. At this rate, the global population is unlikely to reach 9 billion people over the next ten years.
Why it matters
Although people around the globe are living in better conditions with easy access to healthcare, food, clean water and sanitation than in previous generations, there are compounding issues including climate change, rising poverty levels, ramifications of Covid, etc.
The big picture
Experts have pointed out that the growing global population puts more pressure on nature, as there is a competition with wildlife for water, food and space. Whether it’s food or water, batteries or gasoline, there will be less to go around as the world’s population rises. With this concern in mind, there is a need for policymakers to make a major shift in consumption patterns.
What you should know
The world’s population has doubled since 1974, increasing from seven billion to eight billion in 12 years, while the UN insists the global population is unlikely to reach 9 billion people over the next 15 years.
Half of the world’s eight billion people live in seven countries, including China, India, the U.S., Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Brazil.