On November 15, 2022, the world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion people, having grown by 1 billion since 2010. This is a remarkable milestone, given that the human population was less than 1 billion for millennia to about 1800, and that it took more than 100 years to grow from 1 to 2 billion. By comparison, the growth of the world’s population over the past century has been fairly rapid. Despite a gradual reduction in the growth rate, the world’s population is projected to exceed 9 billion by around 2037, and 10 billion by around 2058.

This rapid growth in the human population is testimony to achievements in public health and medicine, such as improvements in sanitation and disease control, improved access to safe drinking water and the development of vaccines, antibacterial drugs, and other effective medical therapies. Together with improved nutrition and improved living standards, these achievements reduced the risk of death, especially among children, and generated unprecedented population growth worldwide.

At the same time, rapid population growth poses challenges to progress in social and economic development by requiring ever increasing investment of resources to meet the needs of an increasing number of people. Continued population growth also adds greater urgency to efforts to ensure economic development while protecting and preserving the environment. Understanding and planning for future demographic changes is essential for ongoing progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that no one is left behind.

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