World population reaches 8 billion mark
The world's population has reached a significant milestone.
We've just passed the eight billion mark.
The United Nations says people living longer, thanks to improvements in public health systems, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine.
It says it's also the result of higher fertility rates, particularly in the world's poorest countries -- most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.
The current population is more than three times higher than the global headcount in 1950.
According to UN estimates, the number of people on the planet will grow to about 8.5 billion in 2030 and .9.7 billion in 2050.
It's projected India will surpass China as the world's most populous country in 2023.
Meanwhile, here in South Africa Statistics SA and the UN Fund for Population Activities has dubbed it 'The Day Of 8'.
The fund's Dr Dr Bannet Ndyanabangi says the population growth reflects an improvement in the quality of life across the world.
"Today indeed 15 November, the world population reached eight billion and this a growth by one billion from 2010. The next billion is expected to be in 13-and-a-half years."
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