On November 15, 2022, the Earth reached a population milestone of 8 billion people. The world population growth rate has hit over 0.8%, and all six habitable continents have seen a sizable increase. The most populous countries in terms of growth rate and fertility rates are Nigeria and Pakistan. By migration rate, the United States, Russia, and Brazil lead the pack.
Global life expectancy has grown from 29 to 73 years since 1800, indicating an overall better global health and an older world population. The health of our world is another strong factor that has led to population increases. The healthiest countries in the world are Spain, Italy, and Iceland, while the unhealthiest are South Sudan, Somalia, and Chad. It is for these reasons that the aging populations have also affected global businesses. Global GDP growth has slowed tremendously, and there is a large potential for labor shortages. On the other hand, an older population of workers can increase productivity, and larger populations can lead to an increase in multinational corporations.
It is estimated that Earth’s population will peak at 10.4 Billion in 2080. Many experts are praising our resilience as a species in this regard. However, they also use these numbers to heed potential environmental impacts that a growing population can lead to in the future. Despite the uncertainties of the future, the one thing that is for sure is that the human species is ever growing and evolving. Our path to 9 billion is in sight, leaving many unsure about what the future will hold.
