World Population Surpasses 8 Billion On New Year’s Day, U.S. Growth Trends Explored

(CTN News) – The global population has expanded by 75 million individuals in the past year, reaching an unprecedented milestone of over 8 billion people on New Year’s Day, as per the latest data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday.

Over the last year, the world witnessed a growth rate of just under 1%. As we usher in 2024, statistical projections from the Census Bureau indicate an estimated 4.3 births and two deaths occurring worldwide every second.

These figures shed light on the dynamic nature of global demographics.

In contrast to the global growth rate, the United States experienced a more modest increase of 0.53% over the past year. During this period, the U.S. welcomed an additional 1.7 million residents, contributing to a total population of 335.8 million people as of New Year’s Day.

Demographer William Frey, affiliated with The Brookings Institution, offers insight into the demographic trajectory of the United States.

He suggests that if the current pace persists, the 2020s may emerge as the slowest-growing decade in U.S. history. Projections indicate a growth rate of less than 4% over the ten-year span from 2020 to 2030.

To contextualize, the slowest-growing decade historically was during the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s, when the growth rate stood at 7.3%.

Frey acknowledges the potential for a slight uptick in growth as the world emerges from the pandemic era. However, even with this anticipated rebound, achieving a growth rate of 7.3% seems challenging.

Looking ahead to 2024, the United States is expected to witness one birth occurring approximately every nine seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds.

Significant Population Growth Sustained by Immigration:

Notably, immigration plays a crucial role in maintaining the population, with net international migration projected to add one person to the U.S. population every 28.3 seconds.

When combined with births and deaths, this results in an overall increase of the U.S. population by one person every 24.2 seconds.

These demographic trends underscore the complex interplay of factors shaping global and national population dynamics as we enter the new year and decade.