360The world's population reaches eight billion
The United Nations marked 15 November 2022 as the day the world's population reached eight billion people. It had grown from seven billion in about 11 years, thanks to longer lives, better health care and lower child mortality. Growth is now slowing, and the UN expects the population to peak at around 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s.
In 1800, about one billion people lived on Earth. It took until about 1927 to reach two billion, but growth then sped up dramatically.
Better medicine, vaccines, clean water and more food meant that far more children survived and people lived longer. The UN marked six billion in 1999 and seven billion in 2011.
On 15 November 2022, the UN marked eight billion, calling it a milestone for humanity and a sign of progress in health. India overtook China as the most populous country in 2023.
Birth rates are falling in most countries, so growth is slowing. The UN projects the world's population will peak at around 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s and then slowly decline.
- c. 1800
- One billion people
- 1999
- Six billion
- 2011
- Seven billion
- 15 November 2022
- Eight billion
- Mid-2080s
- Projected peak of about 10.3 billion
Sources: United Nations Population Division · UNFPA.