World population at 8.09 billion today after 71 million increase in 2024

The world population increased by more than 71 million people in 2024 and will be 8.09 billion people on New Year’s Day, according to the United Stated Census Bureau estimates.

The 0.9 per cent increase in 2024 was a slight slowdown from 2023, when the world population grew by 75 million people. In January 2025, 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths were expected worldwide every second, according to the estimates.

The United States grew by 2.6 million people in 2024, and the US population on New Year’s Day will be 341 million people, according to the Census Bureau.

The United States was expected to have one birth every 9 seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds in January 2025. International migration was expected to add one person to the US population every 23.2 seconds. The combination of births, deaths and net international migration will increase the US population by one person every 21.2 seconds, the Census Bureau said.

So far in the 2020s, the US population has grown by almost 9.7 million people, a 2.9 per cent growth rate. In the 2010s, the US grew by 7.4 per cent, which was the lowest rate since the 1930s.

KEY FACTS

• The world population reached 8.09 billion people on January 1, 2025.

• In 2024, the global population increased by 71 million people.

• The 0.9 per cent growth rate in 2024 was slightly slower than the 75 million increase in 2023.

• Every second, the world is estimated to experience:

- 4.2 births.

- 2.0 deaths.

• The global population is projected to peak at approximately 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s and then decline to around 10.2 billion by 2100.

• This projection is about 700 million fewer than estimates made a decade ago, primarily due to declining fertility rates in large nations like China.

• Over half of the countries worldwide now have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, with some nations experiencing “ultra-low” rates below 1.4.

• Factors contributing to declining birth rates include increased urbanisation, higher education levels, and changing societal norms.

• The proportion of the global population aged 65 and older is increasing, with projections indicating that by the 2070s, there will be more older individuals than children under 18.

• This demographic shift poses challenges for healthcare systems and economies, necessitating policy adjustments to support aging populations.

• While some countries face population decline, others, particularly in Africa, are experiencing significant growth. For example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s population is expected to quadruple by 2100.

• In contrast, nations like Japan and Poland have observed notable population reductions in recent years.

• Declining birth rates and aging populations may lead to labor shortages and increased pressure on social support systems.

• Conversely, slower population growth could alleviate some environmental pressures, though individual consumption patterns remain a critical factor.