The global population will grow even faster than previously projected by the United Nations. Here is how much it will grow between now and the end of the century.
In fifteen years there will be 8.5 billion of us on Earth, compared to around 7.3 billion today. The figure will then rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 and to 11.2 billion people by the end of the century. These are the most important United Nations figures on global population growth, updated to 29 July, the day of publication of the latest estimate — the 24th — by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Undesa) of the United Nations.
The report 2015 revision of world population prospects states that the greatest contributions to population growth will come from a handful of countries, including India, which will become the most populous country in the world in 2021, overtaking China. Nigeria will surpass the United States, establishing itself as the third most populous country in the world by 2050. Indonesia and Pakistan, finally, will join the club of countries with more than 300 million inhabitants, bringing the number of members to six.
In general, between now and 2050 half of the total population growth will occur in nine countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the United States and Indonesia. China is not among them, as its one-child policy has halted population growth for future generations.
A significant figure concerns Africa, which will record the highest growth rate of all the continents, accounting for 50 per cent of the total rate by 2050.
The United Nations has defined the Obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile (Sdgs) for the next 15 years, which have replaced the Obiettivi di sviluppo del Millennio (Mdgs), expiring this year. Population projections for the future are fundamental to understanding the level of ambition required for each of the 17 new targets. Among the goals are the eradication of poverty and hunger, the respect and protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the building of sustainable communities and cities.