NEW YORK (dpa-AFX) – According to a new UN report, the number of people on earth is growing more and more slowly. “In 2020, the growth rate of the world population has fallen below one percent per year for the first time since 1950,” said the United Nations on Monday – on which World Population Day is celebrated – with a new report that the German Press Agency (dpa) was available in advance. According to the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), it is assumed that the number of people on earth will grow by 0.84 percent this year.
For John Wilmoth, Director of the UN Population Division, this global development – despite all regional differences – offers many opportunities, especially for developing countries. In addition to fighting poverty and hunger, this applies above all to the issue of education: fewer offspring increase the attention paid to each child. “When the average family size falls, both families and societies will be able to invest more in each child, improve the quality of education and develop the human capital of the population,” Wilmoth told dpa.
Nevertheless, the UN expects that the world population will break the eight billion mark before the end of this year – probably around November 15th. By 2030, researchers predict there will be 8.5 billion people on the planet, and 9.7 by 2050, before a peak of 10.4 billion people in 2080, which is estimated to last until around 2100. According to DSW, there are currently 7,977,000,000 people on our planet./scb/DP/mis