MAP: The world population as of 2014

MANILA, Philippines – July 11 was set by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as World Population Day to raise awareness about the growing population and the various global issues it brings.

Statistics from the World Bank (WB) show that as of 2014, the world population – which is consistently growing – has already reached around 7.21 billion.

On the other hand, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) reported there are 7.24 billion people in the world as of mid-2014.

Leading the pack of the most populous countries are Asian giants China and India, with both countries exceeding the 1-billion population mark.

A study revealed that world population will not stabilize this century, and may reach 11 billion by century’s end.

Birth, infant mortality rates

A big majority of the world population – almost 6 billion, according to PRB – are found in less developed countries.

Some of these less developed countries have the highest birth rates in the world and, unfortunately, the highest infant mortality rate as well.

Most of these countries are in Africa. In the PRB report, African countries dominate the list of those with the highest birth rate in 2014, with Niger (with 50 births per 1,000 population) on top.

Almost the same countries are also in the list of those with the highest infant mortality rates as of 2013. Central African Republic has the highest rate, with 116 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

These rates in Africa may continue, as the bulk of population growth in the coming years is anticipated in the continent. Population in Africa is expected to rise to 4 billion by the end of the century.

As for the Philippines, PRB reported that the country has 24 births per 1,000 population in 2014, and 23 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013.

– Rappler.com