Jun 17, 2019

Global population growth will begin to plateau by the end of the century

Stef W. Kight

A giant replica of the earth floating in a cathedral. — A replica of Earth hangs on display inside Liverpool Cathedral. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images

Global population growth is expected to drastically slow by 2100, according to new data from the UN Population Division.

Why it matters: As Axios has previously reported, population growth is key to maintaining demand for housing, filling jobs yet to be automated, and paying into pension systems pressed by demographic realities and slowing economic growth — among other things.

The big picture: Between 1995 and 2000, the population grew by 399 million people. In the last 5 years of the century, meanwhile, the population will grow by just 23 million.

The global birth rate is also projected to fall below the level needed to perfectly replace the current generation, even as the population of many African nations continues to boom.
Asia, Europe and Latin America are all projected to have declining populations by the end of the century, which could cause slowed economic growth and prompt some nations to increasingly rely on immigration.

Go deeper: Read Axios' special report on the aging, childless future

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Global population growth will begin to plateau by the end of the century

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