The world population is expected to reach 8 billion people on November 15, according to a projection from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs released on Monday (July 11), which also predicts that India will overtake China in 2023 as the world's largest country. most populated in the world.
The previous milestone, reached with the birth of the seven billionth human being, was crossed on October 31, 2011.
"
As we anticipate the birth of the eight billionth person on Earth
", it is "
a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we are still falling short of our commitments to each other. towards others
,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement, without citing specific cases.
It is also "
a time to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at the advances in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates
," he said. head of the UN.
According to the UN department that authored the forecast, the world's population is currently growing at its slowest rate since 1950. The world population could reach around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050, peaking at around 10, 4 billion people in the 2080s before remaining at this level until 2100.
While a net drop in fertility has been observed in several so-called developed countries, the increase in population expected in the coming decades will be concentrated for more than half in eight countries, according to the UN department.
These are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.