INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The United Nations says November 15, 2022, is predicted to be the day that the global population reaches eight billion.The projection is
billion in 2050, before reaching a peak of around 10.4 billion people during the 2080s
The population is expected to remain at that level until 2100.However, the annual World Population Prospect report, released on Monday to
coincide with World Population Day, also notes that the global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, having fallen to less
that one per cent in 2020.Fertility, the report declares, has fallen markedly in recent decades for many countries: today, two-thirds of the
global population lives in a country or area where lifetime fertility is below 2.1 births per woman, roughly the level required for zero
growth in the long run, for a population with low mortality.In 61 countries or areas, the population is expected to decrease by at least one
per cent over the next three decades, as a result of sustained low levels of fertility and, in some cases, elevated rates of emigration.The
COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on population change: global life expectancy at birth fell to 71 years in 2021 (down from 72.9 in 2019)
and, in some countries, successive waves of the pandemic may have produced short-term reductions in numbers of pregnancies and
eight countriesMore than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries: the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.Countries
of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the increase anticipated through 2050.Liu Zhenmin, UN
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, warned that rapid population growth makes eradicating poverty, combatting hunger
sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in parts of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, recent reductions in fertility have led to a
economic growth per capita.The report argues that, to make the most of this opportunity, countries should invest in the further development
of their human capital, by ensuring access to health care and quality education at all ages, and by promoting opportunities for productive
employment and decent work.Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender
equality, will contribute to reducing fertility levels and slowing global population growth.More older people, living longerThe world should
expect to see far more grey hairs by 2050: by then, it is expected that the number of persons aged 65 years or over worldwide will be more
projected to result in an average global longevity of around 77.2 years in 2050
Yet in 2021, life expectancy for the least developed countries lagged seven years behind the global average.The report recommends that
countries with ageing populations should take steps to adapt public programmes to the growing numbers of older persons, establishing
Population Day offers a moment to celebrate human progress, the World Population Fund (UNFPA) said in its message for the day.Despite global
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
