Nigeria Becomes 6th Most Populous Country As World Population Reaches 8 Billion
Nigeria is now the 6th most populous country in the world according to a report released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
The international agency in its report released on Tuesday, November 15, said the world’s population has reached about 8 billion.
More than half of the projected population is concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Some of the projections made in the UN’s World Population Prospects 2022 include India overtaking China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, with the world’s population rising to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9, 7 billion in 2050 and peaking at around 10.4 billion during the 2080s. The world population is expected to remain at this level until 2100.
The report also notes that fertility has declined markedly in recent decades in many countries. He read;
“Today, two-thirds of the world’s population live in a country or region where lifetime fertility is below 2.1 births per woman, roughly the level required for long-term zero growth for a low mortality population. The populations of 61 countries or regions are projected to decline by 1% or more between 2022 and 2050, due to low levels of fertility and, in some cases, high emigration rates,” the report said.
“More than half of the projected increase in world population through 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
“Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the projected increase to 2050.”
Commenting on the report, António Guterres, UN Secretary General, said;
“This year, World Population Day falls in a pivotal year when we anticipate the birth of the eight billionth person on earth. It’s a time to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at the advances in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.
“At the same time, it’s a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to each other.”
