8 Billion… and Still Counting

NPG’s View on Today’s “Population Milestone”

Today, the world’s population count reaches 8 billion, according to the United Nations.

What does that actually mean?

For the world, this milestone marks the highest number of people ever to inhabit the planet.

For the environment, this milestone highlights the vulnerable intersection of climate change and human activity.

For Americans, this milestone is a clear indication that even though global population is growing at its lowest rate in over half a century, the population of the United States, and most countries, continues to increase.

In the recent United Nations report, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin, noted: “The relationship between population growth and sustainable development is complex and multidimensional. Rapid population growth makes eradicating poverty, combatting hunger and malnutrition, and increasing the coverage of health and education systems more difficult. Conversely, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health, education and gender equality, will contribute to reducing fertility levels and slowing global population growth.”

NPG agrees with Mr. Zhenmin’s perspective. We cannot expect to effectively solve any of our most challenging problems if we continue to add more people to the world and our nation. Only by achieving a smaller, truly sustainable, U.S. and world population will we be able to truly protect our environment and quality of life for future generations.

Over the last two or three years, some nations (including the United States) experienced significant reductions in fertility rates at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. NPG would like to see a more permanent reduction because it would allow all nations to begin to see population stabilization, eventually leading to smaller numbers worldwide. Reduced growth is still growth. The only true solution is to, over the course of several generations, reach a state of negative growth to allow our population to actually shrink to a smaller level.

It has been 4,033 days since the world’s population reached 7 billion. The UN estimates that the world could reach 8.5 billion by 2030. Let us hope that the 8 billion mark signifies the very highest number we will reach and that more and more of the world’s citizens realize the many benefits of smaller families and choose to have only one or two children.

NPG was founded in 1972 to educate all who will listen regarding the need for policies designed to slow, halt, and eventually reverse population growth. Fortunately, fertility rates have declined dramatically in many nations across the globe over the past 50 years. Unfortunately, a small handful of countries still experience fertility rates as high as 5 or 6 children per woman – causing world population to continue to grow.