The Health of the World’s 8 Billion People

As of mid-November 2022, the Earth’s population has officially passed 8 billion people. Globally, the human population grows at about 0.83% a year, though that rate is changing. Right now, differences in fertility rate and migration rate are causing an uneven pattern of population growth between regions and nations.

Another thing that is uneven between regions and countries is health. Overall, the world is healthier today than it was centuries ago. In 1800, the global life expectancy was 29 years. Due to improvements in nutrition and health practices over the last 2 centuries, the global life expectancy today is 73. Spain is the healthiest country with an average life expectancy of 84. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone is the least healthy country. Its people have an average life expectancy of 44 years. 

What does this mean going forward? The UN predicts that the global population will peak at 10.4 billion in 2080. On the way to 9 billion, Sub-Saharan Africa (the region with the least healthy countries) will grow the most. Lots of people being born into poorer countries while wealthier countries see declines in population will encourage migration between regions. African migrant workers will fill labor shortages in Europe.