World population projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

A report was released today with data to confirm that the world's population is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050, and over 11 billion by 2100. India is expected to surpass China as the most populous around seven years from now and Nigeria is expected to overtake the United States as the world's third largest country around thirty five years from now. The report also predicted that in the 2015-2050 period the world's population growth will be concentrated in nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United States, Indonesia, and Uganda.

The report included that this major surge in population is because of the short list of high fertility countries, mainly in Africa, or countries with already large populations. The population growth in the poorest countries presents a set of challenges that make it more difficult to end poverty, inequality, and hunger. These population changes also make it difficult to expand the education and health systems within these countries.

According to the report, two important factors in the increased population growth are the growing ageing population and that the life expectancy at birth has increased dramatically. These significant projections of growth need to be taken into account as countries move forward to handle increases in population.

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