History of World population in Timeline

The world population, the total number of living humans, surpassed eight billion in mid-November 2022, according to UN estimates. Reaching one billion took approximately 300,000 years of human history. It then took only 218 years to increase the population to eight billion, demonstrating accelerated population growth.

1900: European population increases

Between 1700 and 1900, Europe's population increased from about 100 million to over 400 million.

1900: Data from UN report "The World at Six Billion"

Data for 1750 to 1900 are from the UN report "The World at Six Billion" whereas the data from 1950 to 2015 are from a UN data sheet.

1900: Brazil's population grows

In 1900, Brazil's population was about 17 million, or about 1% of the world population.

1900: Global population reaches 1.6 billion

In 1900, the global population was about 1.6 billion.

1920: United States population grows to 106 million

In 1920, the population of the United States grew to 106 million.

1927: World population reaches two billion

In 1927, it was estimated that the world population reached two billion people.

1941: Population of the Indian subcontinent increases

In 1941, the population of the Indian subcontinent increased to 389 million.

1950: Data from UN data sheet

Data for 1750 to 1900 are from the UN report "The World at Six Billion" whereas the data from 1950 to 2015 are from a UN data sheet.

1950: Crude birth and death rates recorded

In 1951, the UN's first report indicated that during 1950–55, the crude birth rate was 36.9/1,000 population, and the crude death rate was 19.1/1,000.

1951: UN's First Population Report

In 1951, the UN's first report indicated that during 1950–55, the crude birth rate was 36.9/1,000 population, and the crude death rate was 19.1/1,000.

1951: UN begins population projections

Since 1951, the UN has issued multiple projections of future world population, based on different assumptions.

1953: China's population rises

In 1953, China's population rose to 580 million.

1955: Global population growth rates increase

From 1955, global population growth rates saw increases of over 1.8% per year.

July 1959: World population at three billion

The International Database of the United States Census Bureau placed the world population at three billion in July 1959.

1960: World population reaches three billion

In 1960, it was estimated that the world population reached three billion people.

1965: End year of Kapitsa's world population growth formula

According to the Russian demographer Sergey Kapitsa, the world population grew between 67,000 BC and 1965 according to a specific formula.

1965: Peak of population growth rate

During the period 1965-1970, the world's population growth rate peaked at 2.1%.

1968: Peak in the population growth rate

Globally, although the population growth rate has been steadily declining from its peak in 1968, growth still remains high in Sub-Saharan Africa.

1970: Peak of population growth rate

During the period 1965-1970, the world's population growth rate peaked at 2.1%.

April 1974: World population at four billion

The International Database of the United States Census Bureau placed the world population at four billion in April 1974.

1974: World population reaches four billion

In 1974, it was estimated that the world population reached four billion people.

1975: Von Hoerner proposes hyperbolic growth formula

In 1975, Sebastian von Hoerner proposed a formula for population growth which represented hyperbolic growth with an infinite population in 2025.

1975: End of the highest global population growth rates period

In 1975, the period of highest global population growth rates, which had seen increases of over 1.8% per year, came to an end.

July 1987: "Day of 5 Billion"

The United Nations determined and commemorated the "Day of 5 Billion" on 11 July 1987.

1987: World population reaches five billion

In 1987, it was estimated that the world population reached five billion people.

1991: Russia's population declines after the collapse of the Soviet Union

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's population declined significantly, from 150 million in 1991.

1994: UN Conference on Population and Development

Following the United Nations' 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, framing human population growth as negatively impacting the natural environment became regarded as "anti-human".

1995: Global fertility rate level

Assuming the global fertility rate remained at its 1995 level of 3.04 children per woman, an extreme scenario predicted a massive increase to 256 billion by 2150.

1995: Haub estimates infant mortality rates

In 1995, Haub estimates that around 40% of those who have ever lived did not survive beyond their first birthday.

1995: Haub prepares figure

In 1995, Haub prepared a figure on the total number of humans who have ever lived, which was updated in 2002 and 2011.

1996: Kapitsa cites population estimates

In 1996, Kapitsa cited estimates ranging between 80 and 150 billion for the total number of humans who have ever lived.

October 1999: "Day of 6 Billion"

The United Nations determined and commemorated the "Day of 6 Billion" on 12 October 1999.

1999: World population reaches six billion

In 1999, it was estimated that the world population reached six billion people.

2000: United Nations estimates world population growth rate

During the period 2000-2005, the United Nations estimates that the world's population was growing at an annual rate of 1.3%.

2000: Brazil's population grows

In 2000, Brazil's population was about 176 million, or almost 3% of the global population.

2000: Global population reaches over 6 billion

In 2000, the global population was over 6 billion as the whole world entered the early phases of what has come to be called the "demographic transition".

2001: Hopfenberg and Pimentel's research on food exports

According to Hopfenberg and Pimentel's 2001 research, "it is through exports from food-rich to food-poor areas... that the population growth in these food-poor areas is further fueled.

2001: Hopfenberg and Pimentel's findings

Hopfenberg and Pimentel's 2001 findings support both the increasing human population and food production, and Daniel Quinn's accusation that "First World farmers are fueling the Third World population explosion".

2001: Publication of study on population and food supply

In 2001, agronomist and insect ecologist David Pimentel and behavioral scientist Russell Hopfenberg published a study on the relationship between population growth and available food supply.

2002: Haub updates figure

In 1995, Haub prepared a figure on the total number of humans who have ever lived, which was updated in 2002 and 2011.

2003: UN Population Division projects population between 3.2 and 24.8 billion by 2150

In 2003, the UN Population Division population projections for the year 2150 range between 3.2 and 24.8 billion.

2005: United Nations estimates world population growth rate

During the period 2000-2005, the United Nations estimates that the world's population was growing at an annual rate of 1.3%.

2005: UN projects population lower in 51 countries

The United Nations projects that the population of 51 countries or areas, including Germany, Italy, Japan, and most of the states of the former Soviet Union, is expected to be lower in 2050 than in 2005.

2006: Population of the United Kingdom reaches 60 million

In 2006, the population of the United Kingdom reached 60 million.

March 2007: UN Revises 2050 Population Estimate Upwards

On 14 March 2007, the United Nations issued its 2006 revision of world population projections, revising the 2050 mid-range estimate upwards by 273 million.

2009: UN population projections for 2050

In 2009, UN population projections for 2050 ranged between around 8 billion and 10.5 billion people.

2010: Global fertility rate declines

By 2010, the global fertility rate had declined to 2.52.

2010: Mexico's population grows

In 2010, Mexico's population grew to about 112 million.

2010: United States population exceeds 307 million

In 2010, the population of the United States exceeded 307 million.

2010: Population change from 2010 to 2015

Using figures, the change in population from 2010 to 2015 was calculated.

October 2011: "Day of Seven Billion"

The Population Division of the United Nations declared the "Day of Seven Billion" to be 31 October 2011.

October 2011: World population reaches seven billion

The United Nations estimated that the world population reached seven billion in October 2011.

2011: Haub updates figure

In 2011, Haub's updated figure for the total number of humans who have ever lived was approximately 107 billion.

2011: Han Chinese constitute over 19% of the global population

In 2011, the Han Chinese were the world's largest single ethnic group, constituting over 19% of the global population.

2011: UN Estimate of World Population at Seven Billion

In late 2011, according to the United Nations, the world population reached seven billion.

March 2012: World population reaches seven billion

According to the United States Census Bureau, the world population reached seven billion in March 2012.

March 2012: US Census Bureau Estimate of World Population at Seven Billion

In March 2012, the US Census Bureau (USCB) asserted that the world population reached seven billion.

June 2012: Total weight of Earth's human population

In June 2012, British researchers calculated the total weight of Earth's human population as approximately 287 million tonnes.

2012: Russia's population declines after the collapse of the Soviet Union

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's population declined significantly, to 143 million in 2012.

2012: UN projects a steady population increase

In 2012, United Nations projections showed a continued increase in population in the near future with a steady decline in population growth rate; the global population is expected to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050.

2013: Decline in Russia's population halts

By 2013, the decline in Russia's population appeared to have halted.

2014: Population forecast of between 9.3 and 12.6 billion in 2100

In 2014, an estimate forecasts between 9.3 and 12.6 billion in 2100, and continued growth thereafter.

2015: Global population growth rate declines

Between 2015 and 2020, the global population growth rate declined to 1.1%.

2015: Crude birth and death rates recorded

By the period 2015–20, both numbers had dropped significantly to 18.5/1,000 for the crude birth rate and 7.5/1,000 for the crude death rate.

2015: Data from UN data sheet

Data for 1750 to 1900 are from the UN report "The World at Six Billion" whereas the data from 1950 to 2015 are from a UN data sheet.

2015: Global Births at 140 Million Per Year

During 2015–20, the total number of births globally is 140 million per year.

2015: Global births per year

In 2015-2020, the total number of births globally was 140 million per year.

2015: Population change from 2010 to 2015

Using figures, the change in population from 2010 to 2015 was calculated.

December 2019: German Foundation for World Population projects 8 billion by 2023

In December 2019, the German Foundation for World Population projected that the global population will reach 8 billion by 2023, increasing by 156 people every minute.

2019: United Nations reports decline in population growth rate

In 2019, the United Nations reported that the rate of population growth continues to decline due to the ongoing global demographic transition.

2020: Global average life expectancy

According to the World Health Organization, the global average life expectancy as of 2020 is 73.3 years.

2020: Europe's population

As of 2020, Europe's population made up 10% of the world's population.

2020: Global sex ratio

As of 2020, the global sex ratio is approximately 1.01 males to 1 female.

2020: Largest religious categories in the world

As of 2020, the largest religious categories in the world are estimated as follows: Christianity (31%), Islam (25%), Unaffiliated (16%) and Hinduism (15%).

2020: Median age of human beings

As of 2020, the median age of human beings globally is 31 years.

2020: Global population growth rate declines

Between 2015 and 2020, the global population growth rate declined to 1.1%.

2020: Global births per year

In 2015-2020, the total number of births globally was 140 million per year.

2020: Java's population reaches over 139 million

In 2020, Java's population reached over 139 million.

2020: PRB estimates 117 billion humans have ever lived

The PRB (Population Reference Bureau) puts the figure at 117 billion as of 2020, estimating that the current world population is 6.7% of all the humans who have lived since 190,000 BCE.

2021: Estimated nominal gross world product

The IMF estimated nominal 2021 gross world product at US$94.94 trillion, giving an annual global per capita figure of around US$12,290.

2021: National Institute of Corrections estimate

The National Institute of Corrections estimates that the number of people who have ever lived will rise to 121 billion by 2050, 4 billion more than their 2021 estimate.

November 2022: Global population reaches eight billion

According to the UN, the global population reached eight billion in November 2022.

November 2022: Most densely populated countries list

As of November 2022, a list of the world's most densely populated countries was published.

November 2022: Birth of the eight billionth person

The United Nations marked the birth of the eight billionth person on 15 November 2022.

July 2023: Percentage of world population in ten countries

As of July 2023, approximately 4.6 billion people live in ten countries, representing around 57% of the world's population.

2023: Projected global population of 8 billion

In December 2019, the German Foundation for World Population projected that the global population will reach 8 billion by 2023, increasing by 156 people every minute.

January 2024: Global Internet users

As of January 2024, there were about 5 billion global Internet users, constituting 66% of the world population.

2024: Expected end of hyperbolic growth

According to linear interpolation and extrapolation of UNDESA population estimates, after 2024, it is unlikely that there will be another doubling of the global population in the 21st century.

2025: Projected infinite population

In 1975, Sebastian von Hoerner proposed a formula for population growth which represented hyperbolic growth with an infinite population in 2025.

2030: UN estimates medium variant population at nearly 8.6 billion

The 2019 Revision of the UN estimates gives the "medium variant" population as nearly 8.6 billion in 2030.

2037: Projected global population of nine billion

It is projected that the global population will reach around nine billion by 2037.

2040: Projected peak of global births per year

During the period of 2040-2045, the number of births globally is projected to peak at 141 million per year.

2045: Projected peak of global births per year

During the period of 2040-2045, the number of births globally is projected to peak at 141 million per year.

2050: Range of alternative scenarios for global population

Alternative scenarios for 2050 range from a low of 7.4 billion to a high of more than 10.6 billion people.

2050: UN projects world population

By 2050, the UN Department of Economics and Social Affairs projects the global population will be between 9 and 10 billion people.

2050: UN population projections

In 2009, UN population projections for 2050 ranged between around 8 billion and 10.5 billion people.

2050: UN projects world population to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion

In 2012, United Nations projections showed the global population is expected to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050.

2050: UN revises population estimate

On 14 March 2007, the United Nations issued its 2006 revision of world population projections, revising the 2050 mid-range estimate upwards by 273 million.

2050: Projected total number of humans ever lived

The National Institute of Corrections estimates that the number of people who have ever lived will rise to 121 billion by 2050.

2050: UN projects population lower in 51 countries

2050: Estimated median age of the world's population

The median age of the world's population is expected to rise to 37.9 years by 2050.

2057: Projected global population of ten billion

It is projected that the global population will reach around ten billion by 2057.

2064: Projected peak of 9.73 billion people

In a modeled future projection by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the global population was projected to peak in 2064 at 9.73 billion people and decline to 8.79 billion in 2100.