![Estimated (to 2011) and projected (from 2012) populations of the world and its inhabited continents. The shaded regions correspond to range of projections by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.[1]](view_image.php?q=World_population_milestones&sq=&lang=en&file=File:UN_DESA_continent_population_1950_to_2100.svg)
World population milestones went unnoticed until the 20th century, since there was no reliable data on global population dynamics.[2]
The population of the world reached
- one billion in 1804
- two billion in 1927
- three billion in 1960
- four billion in 1974
- five billion in 1987
- six billion in 1999
- seven billion in 2011
- eight billion in 2022
Old estimates put the global population at 9 billion by 2037–2046, 14 years after 8 billion, and 10 billion by 2054–2071, 17 years after 9 billion; however these milestones are likely to be reached far sooner.[5][needs update] Projected figures vary depending on underlying statistical assumptions and which variables are manipulated in projection calculations, especially the fertility variable. Long-range predictions to 2150 range from a population decline to 3.2 billion in the 'low scenario', to 'high scenarios' of 24.8 billion. One scenario predicts a massive increase to 256 billion by 2150, assuming fertility remains at 1995 levels.[6]
| World population milestones in billions (UN estimates)[7] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Year | 1804 | 1927 | 1960 | 1974 | 1987 | 1999 | 2011 | 2022 | 2037 | 2054 |
| Years elapsed | - | 123 | 33 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
| World population milestones in billions (USCB estimates) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Year | 1804 | 1927 | 1960 | 1974 | 1987 | 1999 | 2011 | 2022 | 2046 | 2071 |
| Years elapsed | - | 123 | 33 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 25 |
- ^ "World Population Prospects, the 2010 Revision". Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ Vaclav Smil, "Global Population: Milestones, Hopes, and Concerns" Archived 3 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Medicine & Global Survival, October 1998; Vol. 5, No. 2, 105–108
- ^ "The babies born as world population hits 8bn". BBC. 16 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ World Population 3000 (Top 25 Countries by Population 1000 A.D - 3000 A.D), archived from the original on 3 February 2023, retrieved 31 January 2023
- ^ *"Ch. 5: Population Size and Composition". World Population Prospects, the 2000 Revision (PDF). Vol. III. United Nations Population Division. p. 171. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- "Executive Summary". World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision Volume III: Analytical Report (PDF). 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- "World Population to 2300" (PDF). New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Population Division. 2004: 3, 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "World Population: 1950–2050". U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. June 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "2009 World Population Data Sheet" (PDF). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
- ^ "Key Findings". Long-Range Population Projections (PDF). New York: United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "United Nations Population Division World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.