The world is expected to hit the peak global number of births in 2014 and then decline, according to projections from the United Nations (UN) Population Division. After an expected worldwide births of 139 million, the UN reports that the birth rate will slightly decline to approximately 135 million and stay relatively stagnant until a projected increase in 2040. By the end of the 21st century, the UN predicts the worldwide population will continually increase until it peaks at nearly 11 billion, even with a steady birth rate. This is due to expectations that the death rate will also slow and keep in balance with the number of births.
More about global birth trends:
- Africa has an average birth rate of over five children per woman, and the continent’s population is projected to increase two-fold from 2013 through 2050.
- The average number of births is 2.5 per every woman of child bearing age throughout the world.
- Europe is among the only regions in the world expected to have a sharp decline in population, from 740 million in 2014 to a projected 726 million in 2050, even as the rest of the world’s population increases.