World population hits 8 billion: UN

RT.com, 15 Nov, 2022 - The world’s population officially passed the eight billion mark on Tuesday morning, the United Nations said, celebrating the milestone with a counting clock on its website.

In a statement on the Day of Eight Billion, the UN paid tribute to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine – factors leading to a “gradual increase” in the average human lifespan, which is expected to reach 77.2 years by 2050. However, the organization pointed to the slowing growth rate, uneven levels of fertility across the planet, and markedly older populations in many countries.

“The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet,” the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. According to the World Population Prospect Report 2022, released in July, global population growth is at its slowest since 1950, with the rate falling below 1% in 2020.