The joy of a baby being born is a gift to any family. It can be the highlight of a lifetime for a new mother or father. The gift of life is something so special and unique that it must be treasured. With that in mind, it is surprising to know that every day 350,000 babies are born. Read on to find out more.
If we take account of the average deaths each day then we know that the world population grows by approximately 215,000 people each day. At present, the population is 7.8 billion people and growing. While people continue to live longer, the birth rate is slowing down, meaning that the overall population is continuing to grow but at a slowing rate. Despite this, the population will be 8.5 billion people by 2030.
The developing countries are the fuel driving population growth. The 47 least developed countries are some of the fastest-growing populations in the world with many likely to double their population by 2050. By 2027 India will surpass China as the most populated country in the world.
In 2018 for the first time ever the population aged over 65 outnumbered the population of those aged under 5. By 2050 the older age groups will further dominate. This is worrying as countries must support their citizens through taxes. An older population means more pressure on resources, infrastructure, facilities, and taxation. It is a burden that many developing countries can not afford.
Population growth is a difficult issue. In many developed countries, there are too few children being born resulting in an over aging population. In many developing countries there are too many children being born resulting in population growth that is too fast. Overall the total world population is growing too quickly placing pressure on the finite resources of the planet. Over the next decade, the population crisis will be a key issue for world governments to discuss.