The United Nations estimated that the global population reached 8 billion on November 15, calling it the "Day of 8 Billion." Somewhere in the world, the first cries of a newborn baby will mark a new milestone for humanity.
The Worldometer used data collected from all over the world to track the historic milestone in real-time. The UN said that much of the population growth is expected between this time and 2050, especially from eight countries, of which half are in sub-Saharan Africa.
A newborn baby lies in an incubator moments after birth at the maternity ward of a hospital in Paris on June 29, 2022.
Significance of the Day of 8 Billion
Aside from sub-Saharan Africa, the UN said that other countries are expected to experience a surge in population, including India, with nearly 1.4 billion people currently, which is expected to overtake China next year as the most populous country in the world.
The UN said that the milestone of reaching 8 billion in population is a celebration of human longevity due to improvements in public health and medicine. However, the organization also warns about economic inequality and sustainability as countries with the highest fertility tend to have the lowest income per capita. They call on slower population growth to help mitigate environmental damage.
Andrea Wojnar, India's representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), told NPR that the story behind the world's eight billion population is a story of triumph. It celebrates increasing life expectancy and declining infant and maternal mortality. To mark this progress is significant for medicine and health systems, showing the benefits of improved education and overall development.
It means that despite the challenges, more people today are educated and healthier than in previous generations. Although some may see a higher population as problematic, the UN said that they see the potential of humans as resources and solutions rather than a cause for alarm.
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A Surge in Global Population
The UN reported that the world's population had grown rapidly since 1900 due to soaring birthrates in some regions and healthcare advancements. In 1999, the UN projected that the population would hit the 8 billion mark in 2028, but the developments came faster.
Just a millennia ago, the UN estimated that there were only 300 million people on Earth. But the global population fluctuated in the next centuries due to plagues and natural disasters. Then by 1804, the global population reached 4 billion, and 7 billion by 2011.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019 worldwide, a significant increase since 1990. Although it dropped to 71.0 in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN predicts that the global population will reach 10.4 billion by the 2080s and remain at that number until the start of the next century. For now, the organization warns that there will be more emissions of greenhouse gases as there are more people on Earth.
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