Published on 11 July 2019
In June, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs published their 26th round of population estimates and projections in their report entitled World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights. Based on the analysis of demographic data for 235 countries and geographic areas, the report concludes that the world’s population is expected to rise to 9.7 billion in the next 30 years and to reach a peak of nearly 11 billion around the end of the century.
And, with many of the fastest growing populations living in the poorest countries, the expected growth will likely bring more challenges to meet the sustainable development targets in eradicating poverty, combating hunger or bolstering healthcare, and will require important investments in education.
The report’s projections earmark Nigeria as the country with the second largest population increase, just after India. The Nigerian city of Lagos, shown in this PROBA-V 100 m image (dark red tones), is already the most populous African city, and the 8th fastest growing city in the continent. It is expected to once more double its population by 2050.