World Population Passes 7 Billion Mark

What does a billion look like? Picture a square inch; then imagine a huge square made up of a billion square inches. Clue: the big square would measure about half a mile on each side. Now stack six identical huge squares on top, and you’ve got 7 billion square inches. If each tiny square represents a person, that’s how many people now live on planet Earth.

The 7 billion total was reached some time on October 31, 2011, according to the United Nations Population Fund, or UNPFA. Other organizations in the business of estimating global population say the total was reached months before or won’t be reached until 2012. Although sources also differ on when the world’s population reached 6 billion, 1999 is a likely year. We probably reached 5 billion only 12 years before that, in 1987. Whatever the exact timing, there is no denying that the world’s population has been growing at an astounding rate. For example, the total was 3 billion just 51 years ago. So, from 1960 to 2011, the population has more than doubled.

The growing population puts more stress on the environment and threatens more people with famine and other miseries. To help relieve these issues, the UNPFA created a campaign called 7 Billion Actions. This initiative aims to raise awareness related to key population issues such as reproductive health, poverty, the empowerment of women, youth, environmental sustainability, aging, and urbanization. UNPFA is encouraging people to take actions regarding these challenges. The campaign will count and showcase actions that focus on relieving the stresses created by our growing numbers.

Image credit: © Fresh Paint/Fotolia

Related Links

  • World Population Prospects, the 2010 Revision
    This Web site offers an extensive list of frequently asked questions about global population and their answers; includes links to other data and documentation.
    (Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs; accessed November 30, 2011)
  • Special Series: 7 Billion
    Besides providing a good summary detailing aspects of world population growth, this site includes a photo gallery with informative captions from countries worldwide.
    (Source: National Geographic, January 2011)
  • 7 Billion Actions
    Read more about United Nation Population Fund’s efforts to document actions that highlight the connections among the world’s people.
    (Source: Wikipedia; accessed November 30, 2011)
  • Indian Baby Picked as World’s “Seven Billionth” Person
    This article highlights discrimination against girl babies in India.
    (Source: BBC News, October 31, 2011)
  • Special Series: 7 Billion Party
    Watch this whimsical video that points, ironically, to just how small 7 billion is.
    (Source: National Geographic, January 2011)

73 Comments

  1. juan r says:

    thats alot of people cooooooooooooooooooool

    • PopRo says:

      Actually the world can BARELY hold 7 billion people.

      • Mona says:

        16aec351ebHey would you mind sharing which blog plrtofam you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask! 185

    • Alex B. says:

      “This world will never be what I expected and if I don’t belong…” By: Three Days Peace.

    • Curious :O says:

      Dang, i wonder how many babies were born since the population went passed the 7 billion mark?

  2. evan williams says:

    it is amazing how this world can hold 7billion people

  3. travis hogue says:

    we would be at 10 billion if it wasent for hitler

  4. I like pie says:

    wow

  5. DIAMOND says:

    7 BILLION! THATS A LOT! PEOPLE SHOULD REALY STOP HAVING SO MUCH BABIES OR AT LEAST JUST STOP PERIOD.

  6. WOW says:

    I never knew there was this many people.

  7. 2222211111 says:

    thats funny diamond lol lmfao rofl

  8. hfhjksdfgh says:

    omg

  9. Anonymous says:

    o m frigga frigga g

  10. Liz says:

    to be honest i find that amount ridiculous -.- there are too many people in the world

    • Omar Obengarshed says:

      well you are one of those people. If you are willing to say there are to many people,than you should realize that you must be willing to face the consiquences yourself.

  11. Jewguy1 says:

    Don’t make jokes about the holocost. It was a serious time for many people.

  12. Alex B. says:

    7 billion omg thats… 7,000,000,000?! if you think about it thats not much

  13. vote4bachmann says:

    wwwwwwooooooooooooowwwww
    that is alot of people

  14. tyler says:

    repurduce
    repurduce
    repurduce
    yeah!!!!!!!!!

  15. Alexis M. (A.K.A Kaplan) says:

    That is A LOT of people! I wonder what some people are going to do

  16. Shaundrel says:

    7 billion people Woowwwwww Thats Alot Of People

  17. Cynamon J P1 says:

    I think the worlds population is very large. It’s expanding every few years. And that’s bad it’s putting stress on the environment. But at the same time i can’t believe that the world is big enough to hold 7 MILLION PEOPLE !

  18. Shaundrel B. P1 says:

    7 billion people wowwwww thats alot of people

    • Alex B. says:

      What does a billion look like? Picture a square inch; then imagine a huge square made up of a billion square inches. Clue: the big square would measure about half a mile on each side. Now stack six identical huge squares on top, and you’ve got 7 billion square inches. If each tiny square represents a person, that’s how many people now live on planet Earth.

  19. Justin Patterson P.1 says:

    This Article informs me that now this world is becoming smaller and smaller the more and longer the human race is on this planet. 7 billion people is more then just an average of people , this is remarkable i could never think this many people could live on the planet earth.

  20. widler salomon says:

    this article was a good article

  21. Alexis W period1 says:

    Well whatever the UNPFA is trying too do its not working because the population has sky rocket again and everything there trying too do as in raise awareness for the poverty and so on people are just really not listening.

  22. Jordan P P1 says:

    I say have all the kids you want just dont ask me to babysit…LOL

  23. roberti pd1 says:

    wow that’s why there a sayin is a very small world
    7,000,000,000 wow i never knew

  24. navila E P5 says:

    holy crap, thats too many people bro >.< but people should stop having so many people cause look how china is getting . or people from china should move to other places like africa or something.

  25. Ashley M. says:

    The 7 billion total was reached some time on October 31, 2011 . Other organizations in the business of estimating global population say the total was reached months before or won’t be reached until 2012.

  26. Louis B p5 says:

    wow 7,000,000,000 people that alot

  27. bustosm p5 says:

    its waaayyy to crowded :O

  28. herry perez p5 says:

    its horriable for the enviroment

  29. Abigaelle L p5 says:

    in more years to come earth will be too small for people to live in

  30. katia d p5 says:

    7 billion people that’s a good amount ?!

  31. Alex B. says:

    mating season everyday!!! XD

  32. bob says:

    important

  33. John William B. Connerson says:

    Lotz of pplz on this world woot. we hav no food anymo

  34. poop bum99 says:

    i like trains

  35. Michelle121 says:

    As the population grows the world shrinks.

  36. Bleh says:

    Woot 7 billion people!

  37. ChynaC96 says:

    I must say that I feel that the grow in population is due to the increase of teen pregnancy and that it could be stopped. We are lowering our resources and soon enough the world will not be able to hold all of these people nor supply enough jobs.

  38. p says:

    i have a huge idea of how to save lots of earth resources: make a magnet power motor. you can hook it up to a generator, and walla! you get electricity. the magnet motor is powered by only magnets so it can work forever without using any resource

  39. Master Chief says:

    Great…. More zombies.

  40. Courtney says:

    thats alot of people to hold earth 😮

  41. pizzalove says:

    earth is crowded 🙂

  42. Nicollette B says:

    Yeah, THis is without the illegal immigrants. Add a bill

  43. Anonymous says:

    am i the only one that thinks thats a low amount of people. I thought that was the amount of people in the u.s. alone

  44. Memoona Javed says:

    alot of people and growing but not enough jobs which is bad

  45. amarii says:

    wow.! thats soo cool

  46. mike poolin says:

    hi

  47. Anonymous says:

    this was kool to read

  48. nathan says:

    i hate myself

  49. nathan charles says:

    i hate myself

  50. ronald says:

    i h8 myself 2. 🙂

  51. ski jumper says:

    o no we are over populating 🙂