Today is annual United Nations World Population Day.
In the next few months the world’s population will pass 7 Billion for the first time. (Here’s a population clock to keep track)
This is an amazing 2 Billion new people since 1987 and a doubling of world population since 1968!
The world’s population first reached 1 Billion around 200 years ago.
To understand how much the world we live in has changed compared to the world of our ancestors at that time, you absolutely have to watch the below video produced by the BBC.
It’s less than 5 Minutes but is a magical look into the changes in standard of living across the world.
While the growth of population over the past 200 years is impressive, it’s even more amazing compared to population growth since 10,000 BC.
World Population Day had its genesis in the Day of 5 Billion on July 11, 1987 – the day the UN estimated the world’s population would reach 5 Billion for the first time.
2 years later, July 11 was given annual World Population Day status.
This year the UN is focused on making life more equitable for all 7 Billion inhabitants of the world. A noble cause indeed.