The United Nations says that the number of people on Earth has reached eight billion. This is 11 years after it passed the seven billion mark. After a big jump in the middle of the 20th century, the growth of the world’s population is beginning to slow down.

Population experts claim that it could take fifteen years to get to nine billion and ten billion will be reached by 2080.

The United Nations has in the past chosen infants to symbolise the world’s fifth, sixth, and seventh billion children.

Key facts!

Matej Gaspar – Fifth billion baby

• In July 1987, just a few minutes after Matej Gaspar was born, a flashing camera was placed on his tiny face.
• And a group of politicians surrounded his tired mother.
• After 35 years, the world’s five-billionth baby is doing his best to forget the ceremony and circumstances surrounding his birth.
• According to his Facebook page, he currently resides in Zagreb and works as a chemical engineer.
• However, he does not give interviews and prefers to stay away from the prying eyes of the media.

Adnan Mevic – Six Billionth baby

• Adnan Mevic is 23 and lives in Bosnia.
• Its population is declining at one of the world’s highest rates relative to other countries.
• Adnan Mevic thinks, “Few working people will be left to work for the allowances of retirees.” 
• Many countries in Europe are having trouble with fewer babies being born.
• When Adnan was born, Kofi Annan, who was Secretary General of the United Nations at the time, was there to give him the name “Six Billionth Baby.”
• Because he was the six-billionth baby born, Cristiano Ronaldo, his hero, met him at Real Madrid when he was 11 years old.

Sadia Sultana Oishee – Seventh billion baby

• Sadia Sultana Oishee is in the suburbs of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Even though she is 11 years old, she prefers playing football.
• Oishee is the family’s youngest member and is considered to be their good luck charm.
• She entered the world in 2011 and is considered to be one of the seven billionth newborns ever born.
• Oishee arrived at the scene exactly one minute after the stroke of midnight, when she was met by a swarm of television crews and municipal officials vying for a better view of her.
• Oishee aspires to pursue a career in medicine.

Watch a video

Ted Ed, a user on YouTube, breaks down the concept of population pyramids and discusses the significance of using them.

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