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World population to hit 6.5 billion on Saturday
Rapid growth occurring where it can be least afforded, researchers say
By Leonard David
Updated: 11:30 p.m. ET Feb. 24, 2006
A population milestone is about to be set on this jam-packed planet.
On Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:16 p.m. ET, the population here on this good Earth is projected to hit 6.5 billion people.
Along with this forecast, an analysis by the International Programs Center at the U.S. Census Bureau points to another factoid, Robert Bernstein of the Bureau's Public Information Center advised LiveScience. Mark this on your calendar: Some six years from now, on Oct. 18, 2012 at 4:36 p.m. ET, the Earth will be home to 7 billion folks.
These are estimates, of course, but clear trends emerge from the data behind them.
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AROUND THE WORLD
— People born every minute: 261
— Population in the year 1000: 310 million
— Population in the year 1900: 1.6 billion
— Population in the year 2050: 9.0 billion
— Number of people ever born*: 106 billion
*Estimate as of 2002
Source: Population Reference Bureau
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Dalje - Livescience
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