The global population has grown rapidly since 1950, from *** billion to over eight billion in 2023. The age distribution shows that the number of people within all age groups increased over the period, with the two youngest age groups being the largest in 2023.
Population growth driven by development in Asia
The increasing global population is explained by economic development and a coinciding improvement in living conditions in several parts of the world, particularly in Asia. Improvements in sanitary conditions, the rollout of vaccination programs, and better medical treatment brought down death rates around the world. China saw fast economic development from the early 1980s to the late 2010s, going hand in hand with a rapidly increasing population. Furthermore, the population of India has grown rapidly since it gained independence from the British Empire in the late 1940s, now being the largest in the world.
Most of the future population growth will happen in Africa
The global population is forecast to continue to increase over the coming decades, set to reach over 10 billion people by 2060. Most of this increase is projected to occur on the African continent, as many African countries are expected to experience an improvement in living standards. In 2022, over ** percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa was below 15 years old.
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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). (July 11, 2024). Global population from 1950 to 2023, by age group (in millions) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). "Global population from 1950 to 2023, by age group (in millions)." Chart. July 11, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 16, 2026. /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). (2024). Global population from 1950 to 2023, by age group (in millions). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 16, 2026. /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). "Global Population from 1950 to 2023, by Age Group (in Millions)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 11 Jul 2024, /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Global population from 1950 to 2023, by age group (in millions) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/ (last visited July 16, 2026)
Global population from 1950 to 2023, by age group (in millions) [Graph], United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), July 11, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1496848/global-population-age-groups/