World population will soar by 2bn more than forecast

The experts behind the new findings warned that population should be put back on the world’s agenda
The experts behind the new findings warned that population should be put back on the world’s agenda
RICHARD POHLE/THE TIMES

The world’s population will keep growing and by 2100 it could reach 12.3 billion from the current 7 billion, according to the latest predictions.

The experts behind the new findings warned that population should be put back on the world’s agenda after previous forecasts put the total at the end of the century at about two billion fewer.

Scientists from the University of Washington and the United Nations used advanced statistical models to make more accurate predictions. They said there was an 80 per cent probability that the population in 2100 would be between 9.6 billion and 12.3 billion.

“The consensus over the past 20 years or so was that world population would go up to nine billion and level off or probably decline,” said