File photo for representational purposes.
New York: A United Nations report revealed that the global population is expected to reach its peak earlier than previously anticipated, with the population starting to decline by the mid-2080s.
The UN report on birth projections, issued biennially, stated that the global population is expected to peak at 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s, compared to the current level of 8.2 billion. However, the global population density is expected to decline to 10.2 billion by 2100, which is about 6 percent lower than projected a decade ago.
The report added that birth rates in some countries are now lower than previously expected, indicating slightly faster declines in some high-fertility regions. The report highlighted that women globally are having one fewer child on average compared to 1990 levels.
In half of the world's countries, the average number of live births per woman has fallen below 2.1, the level required for the population to maintain a steady size without migration.
The report also indicated that countries such as China, South Korea, and Spain have very low fertility rates. As of 2024, the population has already peaked in 63 countries, including China, Germany, Japan, and Russia. The total population in these countries is projected to decline by approximately 14 percent over the next 30 years.
