According to a new United Nations report on world population predictions, the world’s population is expected to reach 8 billion by mid-November later this year.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres shared that this population milestone “is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another.”
“This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates,” he added.
The report forecasted that India will officially pass China as the most populous county in the world in 2023, and more than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The report also reported that while the world’s population has slowed its pace over the last few decades, our world is expanding everyday. Population has been a concern for policymakers and humanitarians who are already struggling to provide care for the billions of people around the world. From food insecurity in Afghanistan to a housing crisis in America to numerous climate change disasters occurring around the world, many are worried that our growing population will have a decreased quality of life ahead of them.
Christians around the world are already fighting to address these needs, from donating food to offering financial aide and more. But a growing population means a growing responsibility for the Church to properly look after all of God’s people. Every action taken to help God’s people — big or small — can have a major impact on the world around us.
