Global Scans · Population · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, up 1 billion from 2016. Western economies are declining in numbers and emerging economies witnessing burgeoning growth.

• [New] If current trends in fertility rates continue and if births keep getting postponed later and later, then population will peak in the mid-2050s and then go into relatively rapid decline. Institute for Family Studies
• [New] If fertility rates stabilize, population will peak around 366 million and begin declining in the 2080s. / USA Institute for Family Studies
• [New] If fertility rates continue their recent decline, U.S. population will peak around 351 million and begin declining in the 2050s. Institute for Family Studies
• [New] The past dwarf planet population, four billion years ago, could be more heavier than the present one, which is mostly dominated by lighter Moon-like dwarf planet mass. SciTechDaily
• [New] If China's TFR falls below 1.0, the decline in China's population would be catastrophic, plummeting to 488 million by 2100. Open The Magazine
• [New] China's population decline could follow one of three trajectories, depending on its future TFR. Open The Magazine
• [New] Asia-Pacific is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by rapid digitalization, a large technology-savvy population, expanding e-commerce ecosystems, and increasing investments in AI, IoT, and smart city initiatives. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The 15% of the US population that lives in rural areas is at greater risk of death from chronic diseases and unintentional injury than the population that lives in cities. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Asia Pacific is anticipated to lead in 2026 with a share of nearly 38.2%, as it combines high population pressure, water scarcity, and rising government spending. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The Muslim population around the world has topped 2 billion and is expected to reach 3.4 billion by 2075. Kentucky Today
• Prolonged dry spells, flooding, persistently high staple food prices, declining household purchasing power, and limited income opportunities are driving around 10% of the analysed population in rural districts of mainland Tanzania into high levels of acute food insecurity. Food Security Portal
• The ageing global population drives demand for orthopedic interventions, with the World Health Organization projecting that musculoskeletal conditions will affect 1.7 billion people by 2030. Market Data Forecast
• The population aged 65 and over in the European Union is expected to reach 29.4% of the total population by 2050, significantly expanding the demographic requiring chronic cancer management. Market Data Forecast
• Population growth - especially the expansion of the world's middle class, which could number more than 5 billion in 2030 - is inducing an exponential increase in consumption and pollution so high that it has become a threat to public health worldwide. AXA.com
• The U.S. population is older than ever before, with 82 million Americans projected to be age 65+ by 2050. Eventbrite
• Global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, adding more than 2 billion people to a planetary surface where freshwater scarcity is already widespread. Forbes
• Given the aging population, the importance of hypertension management in Asian populations is expected to increase. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Australia's population is forecast to grow from around 27.8 million today to over 30 million by 2030, meaning over two million more people will need somewhere to live. Property Update
• 68% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, concentrating climate vulnerabilities in cities where heat islands, flooding, and infrastructure failures can affect millions. Persistence Market Research
• Agricultural production must increase by 70% by 2050 to feed a global population exceeding 9.7 billion people, even as climate change threatens yields in major producing regions. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 16 July 2026