Until 1804, fewer than one billion people roamed our planet. More than a century later, in 1927, we surpassed two billion. Since then, global population growth has skyrocketed, driven primarily by the triumphs of modern medicine and public health.
The most recent milestone was crossed on Tuesday, November 15, when the United Nations (UN) announced that the world population reached 8 billion, just 11 years after surpassing 7 billion. (This is an estimated number, as there is no official count).
The growth rate, which is expected to slow in the coming decades, has been uneven across the globe. We see a deceleration of growth rates in populous nations like China and the United States and an increase in birth rates in poorer countries, which threatens to overwhelm already struggling systems.
About 70% of the growth from seven billion to eight billion occurred in low- and lower-middle-income countries, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the UN.
The fertility rate has fallen globally; in high-income nations, the number of people under 65 is expected to decrease in the coming years. But the fertility rate has remained high in poorer countries, where women and girls lack access to sexual and reproductive health care, including contraception.
Meeting the needs – for education, public health, employment, water, and sanitation – created by this growth will require “a significant increase in public spending,” the organization predicts.The Environmental Impact
The growing population has raised fuel consumption at a pace that experts say is unsustainable. It has contributed to environmental challenges, including climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
“Slower population growth over the next few decades may help mitigate the accumulation of environmental damage in the latter half of this century,” the organization believes.Lower Growth
While it took 11 years for the population to grow from seven billion to eight billion, the UN estimates that it will take 15 years before we reach nine billion, in 2037, and another 22 years before hitting 10 billion, in 2058.