There are now eight billion humans on the planet according to a UN report. People are living longer as there is better access to health care, food, clean water and sanitation.
The milestone of eight billion was announced in November 2022 and is described by UN Population Fund executive director Natalia Kanem as a “momentous milestone for humanity”.
Humans and overpopulation
“Some express concerns that our world is overpopulated with far too many people and insufficient resources to sustain their lives. I am here to say clearly, that the sheer number of human lives is not a cause for fear.”
The earth’s population of humans has doubled since 1974 with half the populations living in just seven countries namely, China, India, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Brazil.
Despite losing a lot of lives during the pandemic, people are generally living longer due to the the declining mortality rate and cures for deadly diseases.
According to GapMinder, the number of people living in extreme poverty – less than $2 a day – has fallen from 44% in 1974 to 10%. However there are many challenges and the pandemic unde a lot of the progress made in the areas of education, health care and poverty.
In an Axios report Wilson Center scholar and author of 8 Billion and Counting, Jennifer Sciubba said, “Last century was one of exponential population growth. We see wide gulfs in births, death and even migration around the world.”
Challenges
The biggest challenges that are currently faced by the world and the humans are climate change, forcible displacement of people from their homes and famine.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resulted in major displacement of humans across borders.
Additionally the famine threatening the Horn of Africa is also a cause for concern. International organizations are constantly scrambling to address all of the above issues but finding enough resources as well as geographical and political reach is also a constant challenge.
“The big picture is that things are getting much better. Even so there are countries with high fertility rates ‘marked by famine and conflict, mass displacement… We have to hold multiple truths in our heads,” said Sciubba.
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