Pakistan packing globe: World population to reach seven billion by year’s end

PARIS:

The world population will reach seven billion later this year, with African population increases offsetting declines in birth rates elsewhere, according to a French study published on Thursday.

Just seven countries now account for half the world’s population including Pakistan. China tops the list with over 1.33 billion people, with another 1.17 billion in India.The other five countries, in order, are the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Nigeria.

According to INED, India will become the most populous nation by 2050, with Beijing’s one-child policy moderating their numbers. In historical terms global population growth has been soaring since the 19th century. “It has increased seven-fold over the last two hundred years, topping seven billion in 2011, and is expected to reach nine or 10 billion by the end of the 21st century,” the report said.

While the overall numbers continue to grow, the rate of increase is already dropping, according to INED, standing at 1.1 percent this year from 2 percent 50 years ago.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2011.