EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE NOW POPULATE THE PLANET - UN

The United Nations reported on November 15 that there are now eight billion people on the planet.

In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity's shared responsibility for the planet."

According to the UN, the increase is due to human progress, with individuals living longer as a result of advancements in medical, diet, personal hygiene, and public health.

Since 2011, middle-income countries, mostly in Asia, have added about 700 million people. India has added about 180 million people and is on track to overtake China as the world's most populous country next year.

While births in the United States, Europe, and Japan have been progressively dropping, some of the world's poorest nations, the majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, have seen population increases as a result of increased fertility rates, endangering their development goals.