Day of Eight Billion

The world population's growth to eight billion people in 2022 – up from five billion in 1987, six billion in 1999, and seven billion in 2011 – reflects positive developments across fields such as global health and poverty eradication. Significant reductions in global infant and maternal mortality rates, especially in the 21st century, have led to dramatic increases in global life expectancy – and therefore the overall population.{{Cite web |title=Statement of the Executive Director to the Second Regular Session of the Executive Board 2022 |url=https://www.unfpa.org/press/statement-executive-director-second-regular-session-executive-board-2022 |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=United Nations Population Fund |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=Population |url=https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=United Nations |language=en}}

“This is a success story," UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem said on World Population Day (11 July) 2022. "Our world, despite its challenges, is one where higher shares of people are educated and live healthier lives than at any previous point in history."{{Cite web |title=World set to reach 8 billion people on 15 November 2022 |url=https://www.unfpa.org/press/world-set-reach-8-billion-people-15-november-2022 |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=United Nations Population Fund |language=en}}

File:Global population size (1950-2100).png

Amid global challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, several observers, including David Attenborough, have expressed concerns about the future of the planet and its inhabitants as the population grows.{{Cite web |last=Hendrix |first=Howard V. |date=23 August 2022 |title=The planet is approaching 8 billion people. We're not ready |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/world-population-17391094.php |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=David Attenborough – Humans are plague on Earth |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/9815862/Humans-are-plague-on-Earth-Attenborough.html |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Gorvett |first=Zaria |title=How many people can Earth handle? |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220905-is-the-world-overpopulated |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=8 May 2021 |title=Are there too many people? All bets are off |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/08/are-there-too-many-people-all-bets-are-off |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

Throughout history, fears regarding overpopulation have often referenced the work of 18th-century economist Thomas Malthus, who predicted humanity's growth would outpace its ability to sustain itself with resources.{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Mark |title=OPINION {{!}} Mark Tomlinson: Facing up to the challenge of a world with 8 billion people in it |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/columnists/guestcolumn/opinion-mark-tomlinson-facing-up-to-the-challenge-of-a-world-with-8-billion-people-in-it-20220711 |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=Pete |date=2015 |title=Malthus is still wrong: we can feed a world of 9–10 billion, but only by reducing food demand |journal=Proceedings of the Nutrition Society |language=en |volume=74 |issue=3 |pages=187–190 |doi=10.1017/S0029665114001517 |pmid=25319456 |s2cid=13208588 |issn=0029-6651|doi-access=free }}

Others have pointed to declining fertility as a potential harbinger of demographic disaster. However, demography experts have challenged these theories, highlighting the diversity of countries’ population trends and the unlikelihood of any doomsday scenarios.{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=The Global Population Will Soon Reach 8 Billion—Then What? |url=https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/global-population-will-soon-reach-8-billion-then-what |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=United Nations |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Isobel Asher |title=Elon Musk says 'population collapse' is more dangerous than global warming. Experts say that won't happen. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-wrong-about-fertility-rates-global-warming-demographers-say-2022-9 |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Christensen |first=Jen |date=30 August 2022 |title=Elon Musk thinks the population will collapse. Demographers say it's not happening |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/30/health/elon-musk-population-collapse-wellness/index.html |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=CNN |language=en}}

“Population growth is currently concentrated in the world’s poorest countries, while some of the richest countries are beginning to see population decline," UNFPA Senior Adviser of Economics and Demography Michael Herrmann wrote on 11 July 2022.

Overall, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs projects the global population will continue to grow, potentially peaking at an estimated 10.4 billion people during the 2080s – and staying there until 2100.

The United Nations stated that they "can’t predict which exact baby will push us into the next billion".{{Cite web |title='Milestone for humanity' as UN celebrates 8 billionth birth |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/11/1130632 |date=2022-11-15 |website=United Nations}}

Nonetheless, the Philippines' Commission on Population and Development selected Vinice Mabansag, a baby girl born in Manila, as the symbolic eight billionth person on Earth.{{Cite web |last=Mwenesi |first=Susan |date=2022-11-16 |title=Iconic baby: Joy as Filipino newborn becomes symbolic world's 8 billionth person |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/people/family/483015-vinice-mabansag-filipino-newborn-symbolic-worlds-8-billionth-person/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Tuko}}{{Cite web |last=Hamit |first=Dilara |title=Filipino baby girl becomes world's 8 billionth person |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/filipino-baby-girl-becomes-worlds-8-billionth-person/2742834 |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Anadolu Agency}}

• World population
• Day of Six Billion – 12 October 1999
• Day of Seven Billion – 31 October 2011

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Category:2022 in international relations

Category:Population statistics

Category:United Nations Population Fund

Category:World population