NEW YORK, July 11: The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on November 15, 2022, according to the World Population Prospects 2022, released today by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Issuing a statement, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that reaching this milestone is both a cause for celebration and a clarion call for humanity to find solutions to the challenges we face.
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The health agency said that the challenges facing humanity are acute: generation-defining issues such as climate change, conflict and COVID-19 are disproportionately affecting the most marginalized and vulnerable among us. “To date, millions continue to live in poverty and suffer from hunger and malnutrition, do not have access to healthcare and social protection, and are unable to complete quality primary and secondary education,” the statement reads.
“This is a success story, not a doomsday scenario. Our world, despite its challenges, is one where higher shares of people are educated and live healthier lives than at any previous point in history,” the statement quoted UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem as saying. “Focusing exclusively on population totals and growth rates misses the point – and often leads to coercive and counter-productive measures and the erosion of human rights. In fact, people are the solution, not the problem. Experience shows that investing in people, in their rights and choices, is the path to peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.”
According to the Key Findings of the World Population Prospects 2022, the world’s population is projected to reach a peak of around 10.4 billion people during the 2080s and to remain at that level until 2100.
It took about 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion, approximately the same time as from 6 to 7 billion. The next billion is expected to take approx 14.5 years (2037). Half of the 8th billion added to the world population was a result of Asia’s demographic expansion. Africa made the second largest contribution (almost 400 million).
