United Nations

Worldwide, in 2021, 972 million women in the reproductive age range (15-49 years) were using some form of contraception, an increase from 592 million women in 1990. Use of contraceptive methods increased in all regions between 1990 and 2021. There has been a significant increase in contraceptive use since 1990 in Central and Southern Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Sub-Saharan Africa has also experienced a substantial increase in contraceptive use, from 13 per cent in 1990 to 28 percent in 2021. »

The world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022 from an estimated 2.5 billion people in 1950. It took around 37 years since 1950 for human numbers to double, surpassing 5 billion inhabitants in 1987. Thereafter, it is estimated that more than 70 years will be required for the global population to double again. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100. More than half of the projected increase in the global population between 2022 and 2050 is expected to be concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania. »

Changing levels of fertility, mortality and migration influence the age composition of populations. Globally and for individual countries or areas, the share of population above the age of 65 years is projected to increase, while the share below age 25 is projected to decrease between 2021 and the end of the century. Already, most populations face decreasing numbers of working-age persons (from 25 to 64 years) relative to the number of older persons (65 years and over), and within a few decades this trend is expected for all countries and areas of the world. Globally, the potential support ratio, which equals the number of persons aged 25 to 64 years divided by the number aged 65 or over, is projected to decline from 5.1 in 2021 to 3.0 in 2050 and to reach 2.0 at the end of the century. »