World population hits eight billion

Jenna Moon is a Breaking News reporter. You can reach her at jmoon@semafor.com. Sign up for Flagship, our daily newsletter that distills what’s happening in the world into a concise, insightful morning read.

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The world’s population has reached eight billion, according to the United Nations.

People walk on the New York City street of 34 in Manhattan as according to a United Nations report, the world's population is estimated to reach 8 billion by November 15 of this year, in New York, U.S., November 14, 2022. — REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday's milestone “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.”

India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country next year.

With population growth rates falling globally, the world's population is expected to peak at around 10.4 billion people in 2080, the U.N. estimates. Currently, the world population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950.