Since modern homo sapiens first appeared around 50,000 B.C., an estimated total of 108 billion people have lived on earth--which means that about 6.5% of all humans ever born are alive today. That's a lot of bodies to feed, clothe and shelter, and economists, demographers, scientists and politicians have long fretted over our world's ability to sustain humanity as it multiplies.
The good news, as we approach the 7 billion mark, is that we likely have the resources to sustain a population of that size. The bad news is that those resources aren't always where the people are. Populations are booming mostly in the poorer regions of the planet--the least equipped to accommodate additional life--while in other areas, low fertility rates and increased life spans have governments concerned about maintaining productive economies and providing for the rising numbers of elderly people.
The challenges of the expanding human population lie not so much in curbing growth as in addressing inequity around the globe: finding ways to promote sustainability, support aging generations and adapt to migration patterns, all while keeping our footprint on the planet in check. "Generally speaking, countries do have enough food," says Carl Haub, senior demographer at the Population Reference Bureau. "It's just that many people don't have access to it because of poverty." That's something to work on in the 14 years between now and 8 billion.
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Welcome to TEXAS POP. 7,000,000,000
1 BILLION 1804
1 The massive growth in world population ...
123 YEARS TO NEXT BILLION
2 BILLION 1927
3 BILLION 1959
4 BILLION 1974
5 BILLION 1987
6 BILLION 1998
7 BILLION 2011
8 BILLION 2025
9 BILLION 2043
2 ... is being fueled by high fertility in poor regions
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Children per woman
2005--10
The global fertility rate has fallen by nearly half in 50 years but remains high in less developed countries
U.S. 2.1
CANADA 1.7
Increased contraceptive options have dramatically cut its fertility rate from 6.2 in 1960
BRAZIL 1.9
ARGENTINA 2.3
GERMANY 1.4
Lowest BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 1.2
Highest NIGER 7.2
RUSSIA 1.4
Has offered cash to women for having more kids, to shore up its declining population
INDIA 2.7
SOUTH AFRICA 2.6
CHINA 1.6
The meganation's one-child policy has drawn criticism for encouraging a preference for male children
AUSTRALIA 1.9
3 ... and by increases in life span
There were 12 working-age people for every person over 65 in 1950; by 2050 there will be 3
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Population by age and sex