The world population has now reached 8 billion

The UN confirmed that the world’s population has now reached eight billion. In their annual World Population Prospects report, the UN noted that “The world’s population continues to grow, but the pace of growth is slowing down.”

The world reached the seven billion milestone 11 years ago. The latest estimates by the United Nations show that the global population could grow up to 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.4 billion in 2100.

The UN’s report based population growth on two factors, declining levels of mortality and life expectancy at birth. Globally, life expectancy has increased and reached 72.8 years in 2019. Life expectancy is expected to reach an average of 77.2 years globally in 2050.

Life expectancy at birth in males and females are looked at separately; in 2019, female life expectancy was longer than male expectancy by 5.4 years worldwide, with female life expectancy standing at 73.8 years and male life expectancy at 68.4 years.

The UN has also projected that India’s population will overtake China’s as the world’s most populous country in 2023.

Noting the effects of COVID-19 and the restrictions set in place due to it, the report found that global life expectancy at birth fell to 71.0 years in 2021 from 72.8 years in 2019.