World population hits 8 billion this week
![Crowd overhead](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/69xRirTGdC6kTXV47GiKFe-415-80.jpg)
The world population is expected to hit 8 billion on Tuesday, a monumental milestone in human history, just 11 years after the population hit 7 billion.
The population has grown rapidly for almost all of humanity's existence. Between 1 C.E. and 1650, the population grew a measly 200 million, however, the world is now expected to grow another half a billion by 2030. The growth is attributed to the increased life expectancy due to medical advancements. The U.N. predicts that the population will peak at around 10.7 billion in the 2080s. But, population growth is the slowest its been since 1950, and was even below 1 percent in 2020, the U.N. reports.
However, growth has not been even across the board. Experts have predicted that Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania will make up 50 percent of the world population by 2050. India is slated to overtake China as the most populous country as early as 2023, Forbes reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The population of those over 65 is steadily increasing while the population of children is decreasing, due to reducing fertility rates all over the globe. This could pose a problem in the future with fewer younger people to support the growing population of elderly people, threatening systems like Social Security.
With the population still growing, especially in developing countries, the threat of climate change becomes more rampant. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that 3 percent of the population will be displaced because of climate challenges.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Paloma recipe: the cocktail of the summer
The Week Recommends This refreshing drink balances the fresh and fizzy taste of grapefruit soda with a subtle flavour of smooth tequila
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Mushroom edibles are tripping up users
the explainer The psychedelics can sometimes have questionable components
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Prisons are simply not prepared for extreme heat
Under the radar Inmates are at severe risk of heat-related illness
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Prisons are simply not prepared for extreme heat
Under the radar Inmates are at severe risk of heat-related illness
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The first US species has been driven to extinction due to sea level rise
The Explainer The cactime is up
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The US government wants to turn concrete jungles into real jungles
Under the radar Adding more trees to some cities is the plan
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Beryl kills 4, knocks out power to 2.7M in Texas
Speed Read Millions now face sweltering heat without air conditioning
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gassy livestock are going to be taxed in Denmark
Under the Radar Cows are about to cost more moola
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Sweltering heat wave hits much of the United States
Speed Read An excessive heat warning was in effect for 10% of the country's population
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Why beaches are closing across the country
The Explainer Step away from the water!
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
10 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published