The Earth has had eight billion inhabitants since Tuesday, November 15, according to the official estimate of the United Nations. The UN sees in “this unprecedented growth” the result “of a progressive increase in the length of life thanks to the progress made in terms of public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine”. By comparison, there were 2.5 billion people on Earth in 1950.
>> Eight billion human beings on Earth: how are the calculations made?
According to the UN, this population growth is concentrated in the poorest countries. By 2050, more half of the population growth will come from just 8 countries. And still according to United Nations projections, at the end of the century, the three most populated cities in the world will be African: Lagos in Nigeria, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.
1India: + 256 million
Population in 2022: 1.412 billion. Population in 2050: 1.668 billion.
With already 1.4 billion inhabitants, India should become the most populous country in the world in 2023, passing in front of China which is ahead of it today by ten million people and which will have 1.317 billion inhabitants. According to the UN, in the coming decades, India’s urban population will explode, further exacerbating the existing lack of infrastructure.
2 Nigeria: +161 million
2022: 216 million. 2050: 377 million.
Already the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is expected to increase from 216 million in 2022 to 377 million in 2050. Today the sixth most populous country in the world, it would drop to third place according to the UN, just ahead of the States which by gaining 38 million inhabitants would be in fourth position with 375 million inhabitants.
3 Pakistan: + 132 million
2022: 234 million. 2050: 366 million.
According to UN forecasts, the population of Pakistan is expected to reach 234 million in 2022 and continue to increase to 366 million in 2050. Pakistan would remain the fifth most populous country in the world.
4DR Congo: + 42 million
2022: 97 million. 2050: 215 million.
The country now has just under 100 million inhabitants, the Congolese population should reach 215 million in 2025 according to UN projections, and find itself the eighth most populous country in the world.
5Ethiopia: + 91 million
Population in 2022: 122 million. Population in 2050: 213 million.
With a population which should increase from 122 million in 2022 to 213 million in less than thirty years, Ethiopia would become in 2050 the 9th most populated country in the world.
6 Tanzania: + 65 million
2022: 65 million. 2050: 130 million.
The country has more than 63 million inhabitants according to the UN. With that of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Tanzanian population should increase by 2 to 3% per year between 2022 and 2050, and exceed 150 million within thirty years. This will place it in 14th position in the world, according to projections.
7 Egypt: + 49 million
2022: 111 million. 2050: 160 million.
The Egyptian population is expected to reach 160 million in 2050, compared to 110 million in 2022. Egypt, host country of COP27, is already the third most populous country in Africa. It will have the 11th largest population in the world in 2050.
8 Philippines: + 48 million
2022: 110 million. 2050: 158 million.
With already more than 110 million inhabitants in 2022, the population of the archipelago should approach 160 million in 2050, according to UN projections. This will make it the 12th largest in the world, ahead of Mexico (144 million).