World population to reach 8.09 billion on January 1, 2025, says US Census Bureau

According to estimates released by the US Census Bureau, the global population is set to reach 8,092,034,511 people on January 1, 2025, marking an increase of over 71 million individuals from the previous year. This represents a growth rate of 0.9% for the year, a slight decrease compared to the 75 million increase documented in 2023. The slowing growth rate is attributed to declining birth rates worldwide.

The US Census Bureau estimates that in January 2025, there will be approximately 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths registered every second globally. As noted by Republic World, this steady rhythm of births and deaths contributes to the dynamics of population change, with the rate of increase becoming progressively slower.

In the United States, the population is projected to reach approximately 341 million on New Year's Day 2025, based on estimates from The Economic Times. This marks an increase of about 2.6 million people in 2024, reflecting a growth rate of 2.9% since the beginning of the 2020s, mirroring trends observed in recent years.

It is expected that a baby will be born every 9 seconds in the US in January 2025, while a person will die every 9.4 seconds, as reported by ABC News. Additionally, net international migration will add one person to the U.S. population every 23.2 seconds. When combining births, deaths, and net migration, the U.S. population is projected to increase by one person every 21.2 seconds, according to The Economic Times.

The growth rate in the US has been slowing over the past decades. In the 2010s, the U.S. population grew by 7.4%, the lowest rate since the 1930s, as reported by the New York Post. This trend of declining growth is expected to continue, influenced by factors such as reduced fertility rates and changes in immigration patterns.

Globally, population growth has been particularly strong in Africa. projections indicate that the population on the continent could increase from 1.2 billion to 3.4 billion by the end of the century. This growth is due to higher fertility rates and improvements in healthcare across African nations.

However, the overall global population growth rate is decelerating. The average global birth rate is currently at 2.2 children per woman, a decrease from previous decades, as reported by El Universal (Venezuela). The German Foundation for World Population (DSW) noted that "although the absolute number of people continues to grow, this increase is becoming slower."

The United Nations projects that the world population could exceed 9 billion by 2037, according to Bernama. Despite the ongoing increase, the rate of growth is slowing, and it is expected that the global population will begin to decrease in the second half of the 21st century due to lower birth rates and an aging population.

The role of women in family planning is pivotal in this demographic shift. El Universal (Venezuela) reported that education and sexual education are essential for girls and young women to decide "when and with whom they have the number of children they desire." Jan Kreutzberg from the DSW explained, "When women have equal rights, access to education and healthcare, economic independence, and their own political decision-making, then families also automatically reduce in size."

"Fertility rates fall as girls get access to education and women are economically empowered and have access to better healthcare," said Per Espen Stoknes, project lead for Earth4All and director of the Centre for Sustainability at the Norwegian Business School, according to the Mirror.

Researchers believe that as a result of access to better education, healthcare, and clean energy, the global population will dip to around six billion by the year 2100. The Mirror reports that over the next six decades, the number of people could drastically fall as the world's poorest countries "break free of poverty."

In Turkey, demographic trends reflect global patterns. Euronews Turkish reports that according to data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the population residing in Turkey increased by 92,824 people compared to the previous year, reaching 85.37 million as of December 31, 2023. However, Turkey's youth population rate fell behind both the world and European averages in 2023, with the youth population for ages 15-24 recorded at 15.1%.

India remains the most populous country in the world. By July 2024, India's estimated population will be 1,409,128,298, surpassing China, which is projected to have 1,407,929,929 people, according to Navbharat Times. The United States remains the third most populous country, with an estimated population of approximately 341 million on New Year's Day 2025.

It took only twelve years for the world's population to grow from seven billion to eight billion, as shown by a study published in the spring, Yle reports. This rapid increase underscores the demographic challenges and opportunities faced by the global community.

Despite ongoing growth, the rate of increase is slowing due to declining fertility rates and other socio-economic factors. Bernama cites the DSW report stating, "Afterwards, according to forecasts, a decreasing number of births plus an increasing number of deaths will cause the world population not only to age but also to begin to decrease."

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq