World’s estimated population reaches 8 billion

The United Nations projected that the world’s population would reach 8 billion people Tuesday because of a combination of higher fertility rates in some countries and longer lifespans in others. The UN found that countries with relatively high fertility rates tended to be those with some of the lowest reported incomes per capita. Globally, life expectancy has increased since 1990 by almost nine years, with female and male life expectancies standing at 73.8 and 68.4, respectively, according to a UN report. 

When will the population reach 9 billion? The report said it took the global population 12 years to reach 8 billion, but it projects it will take about 15 years to reach 9 billion. More than half of that growth is expected to come from eight low-income countries. 

Dig deeper: Read Myrna Brown’s report in Relations on lawmakers trying to curb a fertility spiral.