By: Jingwei Zhao

The human population by the end of this year is expected to reach 8 billion people. India will also surpass China as the most populated country in 2023. Anotonio Guterres, a UN secretary-general, stated that the upcoming human population of 8 billion “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.” He also said, “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.” It is predicted that the population will hit 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050, peak at 10.4 billion people in the 2080s, before coming down in the 2100s.

Over the centuries, the female fertility rate has slowed down from an average 5 children to only 2.3. It is estimated that the fertility rate will slow down to 2.1 by 2050. This is due to the increase in female education. Before, women were supposed to stay in their homes and take care of their children. That has changed and women have more freedom with their lives, which also results in most having less babies. The population in the upcoming decades are suspected to be mainly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania. The U.S, New Zealand, and Canada are also expected to have a population increase because of migrants.