World inhabitants at 8 billion — by the numbers – POLITICO

It’s getting crowded in right here.

Final month, the worldwide inhabitants reached 8 billion for the primary time, in keeping with the United Nations. Whereas the variety of people on the planet is anticipated to continue to grow — peaking at round 10.4 billion by the top of the century — its demographic profile is altering. Fertility charges are progressively lowering and a number of other nations — most of them in Europe and Southeast Asia — will expertise inhabitants declines within the subsequent 30 years.

Thanks to raised well being care and enhancing financial situations, folks throughout the planet now dwell longer and more healthy lives, although important regional inequalities nonetheless exist.

Larger life expectancy, mixed with decrease fertility charges, additionally implies that the world’s inhabitants is getting older. The old-age dependency ratio — the variety of folks over 65 as a share of the working-age inhabitants — is projected to double within the subsequent 30 years. This implies the working-age inhabitants might want to maintain a rising variety of retired folks — an enormous problem for social safety, pension and well being care techniques.