HUMAN POPUL ATION
Why it took just 200 years for the world’s population to increase eightfold to 8 billion
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
O n 15 November 2022, the human population reached 8 billion. The United Nations’ population projection is able to calculate this using a model that incorporates fertility rates, mortality rates, migration behaviour and other factors. In each country or geographic region, different living situations influence the death and birth rates of an area. For example, access to effective healthcare increases a population’s average life expectancy. Meanwhile, countries that provide good education to their female population usually have a lower fertility rate.