Global population figure nears 8bn —UN
The population of human beings on earth will hit 8 billion by November this year.
This is contained in a statement issued in New York by the UN to mark the 2022 World Population Day (WPD).
The latest global population estimate indicates that India is inching towards bracing the tape as the world’s most populous nation.
This implies that India is about to topple China at the 1.4 billion mark.
The rating also indicates that Nigeria will soon move from its present 7th to the 6th most populous country in the world.
Periscope International reports that WPD was established by the Governing Council of the UN Development Programme in 1989.
It is an annual event observed on July 11 to raise awareness on global population issues.
This year’s WPD has as its theme, “A World of 8 billion: Towards a Resilient Future for All –Harnessing Opportunities and Ensuring Rights and Choices for All.”
Hajiya Kori Habib, the Media Associate of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria, said in a statement in Abuja that the world body stated that the world population figure is a milestone for humanity.
It added that a growing number of countries face population ageing, while others have youthful and growing populations.
It explained that this was because more people were on the move, either by choice or driven by crises ranging from conflict to climate change.
“Understanding these shifts is critical to harnessing opportunities and mitigating potential downsides.
“Roughly two-thirds of the world’s population now live in a country or area with below-replacement fertility.
“Fewer than 2.1 births per woman, while fertility rates are at a historic low,” the statement added.
