The world’s population is expected to increase by two billion persons in the next 30 years, from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050, according to a new United Nations report [pdf] launched in June.
“Nevertheless, one feature that all of the current scenarios have in common is a continuing slowdown in the pace of population growth from now until 2100,” said John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division at UN DESA.
“According to the projections being released today, it seems plausible that the world population could reach its peak around 2100 at a level of nearly 11 billion people. However, that outcome is not certain and in the end the peaking could come earlier or later at a lower or higher level of total population.”
The Pew Research group broke down some of the most important aspects of the UN’s report.
- Africa is the only world region projected to have strong population growth for the rest of this century.
- In the Northern America region, migration from the rest of the world is expected to be the primary driver of continued population growth.
- The population of Asia is expected to increase from 4.6 billion in 2020 to 5.3 billion in 2055, then start to decline.
- India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2027.
- The Latin America and Caribbean region is expected to have the oldest population of any world region by 2100, a reversal from the 20th century.
