The world's population reached 7.3 billion in the middle of 2015, according to a recent report released by the United Nations. The annual pace of growth was 1.24 percent a decade ago and this has now started to slow, falling to 1.18 percent, or 83 million people each year. Over the course of the past 12 years, one billion people have been added to the planet's population.
Over the next 15 years, the world's population is projected to increase by a further billion, reaching 8.5 billion in 2030. In 2050, it will pass the 9.7 billion mark before topping 11.2 billion in 2100. Interestingly, even though the planet's population is projected to grow, fertility rates are down across the world. Much of the coming growth will be attributed to reducing child mortality and raising life expectancy.
*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)
