By: Weston Ma

The global population is estimated to reach 8 billion on November 15th, 2022. The UN’s 2022 report on population prospects showed that population growth has been the slowest since 1950. The main reason is the falling birth rates. Fertility rates have dropped from 5 children per woman to 2.3 children per woman.

“The global population milestone is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” said UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres. “This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates,” he added.

The United Nations predicted that the world population would hit 8.5 billion people in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. Then it would hit 10.4 billion somewhere in the 2080s and level off in the 2100s. The United Nations cited the main contributors: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania.