Since the middle of the 20th century, the world has experienced unprecedented population growth. The world’s population more than tripled in size between 1950 and 2020.

The growth rate of the world’s population reached a peak between 1965 and 1970, when human numbers were increasing by an average of 2.1 per cent per year.

During the period from 2000 to 2020, even though the global population grew at an average annual rate of 1.2 per cent, 48 countries or areas grew at least twice as fast: these included 33 countries or areas in Africa and 12 in Asia.

The lifespan of adults in the developed world has increased since the middle of the 20th century — the number of people reaching the age of 100 years has never been greater than it is today.

Worldwide, the number of deaths relative to the size of the population has been declining since the 1950s, Over the next several decades, projections by the United Nations assume a continuing gradual decrease in age-specific mortality rates.

Source: UN DESA