World population hits record milestone
World
World

World population hits record milestone

The world has ticked over an historic milestone - there are now eight-billion people on Earth. 

But after a big surge in the second half of the 20th Century, population growth may now begin to slow.

Here's our World News Editor, Kate Gregan. 

8 BILLION people. 

It sounds a little terrifying -- but the UN's Rachel Snow says, it's really not that bad. 

The milestone comes just 11 years after the world's population hit seven billion... but the UN Population Fund says this “unprecedented growth” is now slowing. 

Experts predict it will take 15 years to reach nine billion, while the global population will peak in the 2080s at 10.4 billion.

That's because fertility rates are dropping in many parts of the world... but that's already having an effect on some countries.  

Here's Melinda Mills, who is a professor of Demographic Science at Oxford University: 

And the population of China - the most populated country on Earth - may begin to shrink next year.

Professor Mills say this could be a disaster. 

The workforce in China has also been shrinking for a decade. 

As it is, there are barely two workers supporting every retiree or child. 

Meanwhile, the UN also says we've already hit peak child - there will never again be more children alive than there are today. 

But for now, Rachel Snow is urging all 8 billion of us, to focus on the positives. 

Listen to Kate's World News package above.

You can also listen to the First Light podcast on the go. Download the rova app on apple or android to listen to this podcast on the go, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.