News release: “The demographic divide — the inequality in the population and health profiles of rich and poor countries — is widening. Two sharply different patterns of population growth are evident: Little growth or even decline in most wealthy countries and continued rapid population growth in the world’s poorest countries.

In 2008, world population is 6.7 billion: 1.2 billion people live in regions classified as more developed by the United Nations; 5.5 billion people reside in less developed regions. “We will likely see the 7 billion mark passed within four years,” said Carl Haub, PRB senior demographer and co-author of this year’s Data Sheet. “And by 2050, global population is projected to rise to 9.3 billion. Between now and mid-century, these diverging growth patterns will boost the population share living in today’s less developed countries from 82 percent to 86 percent.”

• 2008 World Population Data Sheet
• Population Bulletin: “World Population Highlights: Key Findings from the 2008 World Population Data Sheet”
• 2008 World Population Clock
• PowerPoint presentations from the press briefing (PPT)