UN: World population to top 10 billion by end of century

The global population will exceed 9 billion by 2050 and is expected to exceed 10 billion by the end of the 21st century at the current fertility level, according to the "World Population Prospects 2010 Revision" released by the Population Division under the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs on May 3.

The report shows that with the current birthrate, the global population will increase from about 7 billion to more than 8 billion by 2023, exceed 9 billion in 2041, and is expected to hit 10 billion around 2081.

However, if the birthrate shows a slight increase, the global population may reach an astonishing level of 15.8 billion by the year 2100. Conversely, if the fertility rate declines, the global population will gradually decline to 6.2 billion by the end of 21st century.

By People's Daily Online

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