Global Scans · Population · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, up 1 billion from 2016. Western economies are declining in numbers and emerging economies witnessing burgeoning growth.

• [New] With an ageing population and increasing burden of multimorbidity, dementia and cancer, the need for palliative care is projected to rise by 25% even by 2040 (an estimated 160,000/year more people needing palliative care in England and Wales alone). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Asia's urban population is projected to exceed 2.6 billion by 2030. Polaris
• [New] A significant portion of U.S. healthcare spending goes to administrative tasks that interoperability could automate or eliminate: re-entering patient demographics, chasing down records via fax, manually reconciling medication lists, and resubmitting claims with corrected data. Keragon
• [New] The population aged 65 and over is projected to grow from 21% to 23% of the total population by 2066, while 47.3% of Australians already live with one or more chronic diseases - up from 42.2% a decade earlier. openpr
• [New] The aging population will mean more demand for long-term care and therapy services. Business Insider
• [New] Today, more than 1 billion people are living with obesity, and without action, nearly half of the global population could be living with overweight or obesity by 2035. World Obesity Federation
• [New] The U.S. population is projected to grow by tens of millions over the coming decades, with demographic shifts amplifying demand for healthcare services. PracticeLink
• [New] The global urban population is projected to reach 70% by 2050, particularly in rapidly growing regions like Nigeria, Indonesia, India and China. Science Publishing Group
• [New] Megacities, housing 70% of the global population by 2050, consume 70% of energy and 67-72% of CO2 emissions, driven by density and lifestyle patterns. Ainvest
• [New] Africa, for its part, will account for 47.6 million births, driven by high fertility rates and a youthful population. FSSPX News
• [New] The Gold Coast is currently welcoming 400 new residents every week and is tipped to reach a population of 1 million by 2040. realestate.com.au
• [New] Based on the UN's 2024 medium-fertility scenario, the world population is projected to reach 10 billion around 2058 and peak at approximately 10.3 billion around 2084. World Population Clock
• [New] The UN's 2024 World Population Prospects projects approximately 9.7 billion people by 2050, with an 80% confidence interval ranging from around 9.4 to 10.1 billion depending on fertility outcomes. World Population Clock
• [New] Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to experience the most dramatic growth, potentially doubling or tripling its current population. World Population Clock
• [New] China is projected to experience the largest absolute population loss of any nation, potentially losing over 200 million people between 2024 and 2054 due to sustained low fertility. World Population Clock
• [New] By 2100, China is projected to have lost more than half of its current population. World Population Clock
• [New] China, currently the world's second-most populous nation, will likely experience the largest absolute population loss between 2024 and 2054, at 204 million people, followed by Japan and Russia. World Population Clock
• [New] Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to double its population by 2050, driven by high birth rates and a young demographic structure. World Population Clock
• [New] An older global population will dramatically increase demand for chronic disease management, long-term care, and elder-specific medical services. World Population Clock
• [New] Pressure on Iran to reach a deal is high as the US switch from bombing (which can unite a population) to even tougher economic sanctions via the blockade of Iranian oil exports will intensify popular discontent with the Iranian Government. FinSec Partners

Last updated: 07 May 2026