Global population to reach 8 billion today

The world human population will reach the 8 billion milestone today, according to the United Nations (UN) projections, with Asia and Africa contributing the most to the growth.

The population
The world has witnessed an increase in population since the last century. The global population in 1974 was just 4 billion, and the numbers doubled in less than 50 years. 

Global mortality rates have remarkably decreased, thanks to science; life expectancy continues to rise as well. The world’s life expectancy is 72.8 years as of 2019 and is expected to increase to 77.2 years by 2050.

But the UN warns about a slowdown in population in the later years of the 21st century due to declining fertility rates. The global population rate declined by 1% in 2020, the first time since 1950. By 2050, the populations of 61 countries are projected to drop by at least 1%.