The Earth's population is nearing its peak

Eva Homicio

People

People © pixabay.com

The Earth's population is nearing its peak, projected to be reached by 2050. Acording as per a study by Earth4all a decline in population is expected after that peak.

Earth4all analyzed two scenarios for population changes in the 21st century. The first scenario, "Too Little Too Late," assumes continued economic development, and some of the poorest countries will overcome poverty. 

Under this scenario, the world population could peak at 8.6 billion by 2050 and drop to 7 billion by 2100.

The second scenario, "Giant Leap," assumes a peak of 8.5 billion people around 2040, followed by a decline to about 6 billion by the end of the century. 

This can be achieved through investments in poverty reduction, education, and healthcare, as well as policy changes related to food and energy security and gender equality.

Researchers analyzed ten world regions, including Africa, China, and the United States, with the highest population growth currently occurring in African and Asian countries, notably Afghanistan.

The Earth4all study showed lower population estimates compared to UN predictions. The UN projects the world population could reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050, and peak at 10.4 billion by 2080, remaining at that level until 2100.

The researchers emphasize that overcoming the demographic boom could alleviate pressure on nature and the climate.

Related Content

Science -

NASA discovers a unique object that defies physics

NASA reported a new discovery of a celestial object that is breaking the laws of physics. The object, known as an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX), shines around 10 million times brighter than the sun.
Science -

Deciphering the impossible: how a never-before-seen shape reshaped math's unsolved conundrum

Ontario scientist Craig Kaplan has contributed to the groundbreaking discovery of a unique 13-sided shape, called "the hat," which solves a mathematical problem that remained unsolved for over 60 years.
Smoke stacks
Science -

Major carbon corporations linked to over a third of western US and southwestern Canadian wildfire damage

A new study reveals that the world's top fossil fuel companies are responsible for over a third of the area burned by wildfires across western US and southwestern Canadian
Science -

A Japanese astronomer has captured rare footage of a meteorite crashing into the moon

The moon is constantly bombarded by meteorites, but it is practically impossible to observe this phenomenon from Earth. Most objects in space are too small and dark to be seen as they approach our satellite.
Science -

'Glass balls' filled with water found on the Moon

Scientists have discovered that water on the moon is located inside glass beads, which are the dominant reservoir involved in the water cycle on the Earth's satellite.