Global Population Nears Its Peak (and That’s a Good Thing!)

The world’s population is expected to reach its peak far earlier than once thought — a shift that could reshape economies and societies for decades to come.

New projections show the global population will peak in the early 2030s at under 9 billion people, well below the 10 billion once forecast.

Fertility rates have dropped faster than expected across dozens of countries. Ageing populations and reduced birth rates in both wealthy and developing nations alike mean that growth has slowed. By mid-century, the number of births per year may fall below the number of deaths globally. While this shift has significant implications for economic models, healthcare, and eldercare, it’s also demonstrating that grand assumptions about constant growth are no longer valid. This could mean renewed focus on quality of life, sustainability, and adapting our systems to thrive without relying on continuous population expansion.