The global population is set to surpass 8 billion on New Year’s Day. This marks an increase of 75 million people over the past year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. The figures also reveal a worldwide growth rate of just below 1 percent, with intriguing insights into the United States’ population dynamics.
Global population growth
At the dawn of 2024, the world will see 4.3 births and two deaths every second. This equates to a growth rate of just below 1 percent for the past year.
The global population growth rate hovered around 1 percent. However, the U.S. experienced a more modest growth of 0.53 percent in the past year. Adding 1.7 million people, the U.S. population will reach 335.8 million on New Year’s Day.
William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution, suggested that the 2020s might be the slowest-growing decade in US history. Frey expects that the projected growth rate for the U.S. will be less than 4 percent from 2020 to 2030.
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Historical context
The slowest-growing decade in the U.S. was during the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s when the growth rate was 7.3 percent. “Of course, growth may tick up a bit as we leave the pandemic years. But it would still be difficult to get to 7.3 percent,” Frey said.
As the U.S. heads into 2024, it expects to witness one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds. Despite these figures, immigration will play a pivotal role in preventing a population decline. Experts expect that net international migration will add one person to the U.S. population every 28.3 seconds. In total, the combination of births, deaths, and net international migration will contribute to an increase of one person every 24.2 seconds.
As the world welcomes 2024, the global population milestone of 8 billion brings attention to the diverse growth rates across nations. The United States, with a growth rate half that of the global average, faces demographic shifts that may redefine the pace of growth for the next decade.
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