Projections
Population projections are conditional scenarios, not forecasts. Each variant assumes a different path for fertility, mortality and migration.
World Population, 1950–2100
UN WPP 2024 medium variant
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 · https://population.un.org/wpp/
Accessible data table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,500,000,000 |
| 1960 | 3,000,000,000 |
| 1970 | 3,700,000,000 |
| 1980 | 4,400,000,000 |
| 1990 | 5,300,000,000 |
| 2000 | 6,100,000,000 |
| 2010 | 6,900,000,000 |
| 2020 | 7,800,000,000 |
| 2030 | 8,500,000,000 |
| 2040 | 9,100,000,000 |
| 2050 | 9,700,000,000 |
| 2060 | 10,000,000,000 |
| 2070 | 10,200,000,000 |
| 2080 | 10,300,000,000 |
| 2090 | 10,300,000,000 |
| 2100 | 10,200,000,000 |
What the data show
Under the medium variant the world population is projected to peak near 10.29B around 2084 and settle around 10.18B by 2100.
Why it matters for continuity
The peak does not mean stability. Behind it lies a profound shift in age structure — fewer children, more older people — that will reshape every institution a society relies on.
Medium scenario
The medium variant is the UN's central projection. It assumes fertility continues to fall toward replacement, mortality keeps declining, and net migration follows recent patterns. It is the default shown across the Data section.
Zero migration
The zero-migration scenario is an analytical projection. It shows the population trajectory under the scenario's fertility and mortality assumptions with international migration set to zero. It isolates the effect of migration. It is not a policy recommendation.
High, low, constant-fertility and zero-migration variant series will be added with the next UN WPP variant-data import.