Population of Earth Hits 7 Billion
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011November 1, 2011
The human population of Earth hit 7 billion on October 31, 2011, as an estimated 500,000 babies were born around the world. This milestone, declared by the United Nations (UN), occurred only 12 years after the world’s population reached 6 billion. In contrast, the total number of people on Earth did not reach the 1-billion mark until 1804, almost 2 million years after the appearance of the first modern human beings. The UN predicted that Earth’s population would reach 9 billion by 2050.
Rising populations will put additional strains on agriculture and water supplies, experts have predicted. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization calculated that by 2050 food production would have to increase by 70 percent to prevent widespread famine. Experts also warned that warming temperatures, freakish weather disasters, and other aspects of climate change may prevent farmers from meeting these targets. In addition, water usage was expected to increase by 50 percent between 2007 and 2025 in developing countries, where most population growth is occurring.
India is one of the largest and most densely populated countries in the world. World Book photo by David R. Frazier
At the same time, Earth’s population is aging, as birth rates have fallen dramatically in more developed countries and life spans have increased. Such trends have created an imbalance between the numbers of workers and older people who depend on taxpayer-funded social welfare programs.
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