Up until 1804, less than one billion people lived on planet earth. In 1927, more than a century later, the population passed the two billion milestone. Since then, due to the advancements in modern science, medicine and public health, the world's population has increased at an exponential rate.

The most recent milestone was accomplished on Tuesday, November 15, just 12 years after it exceeded seven billion when the UN announced that the world population has surpassed eight billion.

The worldwide growth rate, which is anticipated to diminish over the following decades has been unequal. Population-rich countries with slowing growth rates, like China and the United States, have raised concerns that their societies may collapse. Rising birth rates in less developed countries pose a hazard to already stressed systems.

This growth poses more challenges for the planet. The poorest nations, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, are responsible for a large portion of the population growth.

According to the United Nations, low- and lower-middle-income nations, the majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, accounted for around 70% of the increase from seven billion to eight billion people. In the years to come, the inclination is anticipated to increase.

However, future growth will be slower, according to experts. The United Nations predicts that eight nations—Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania—will account for half of the population growth up to 2050.

The UN urged countries with aging populations to modify their public programs to address the issue, such as enhancing the sustainability of social security and pension systems, creating universal health care, and putting in place long-term care systems. The demographic changes pose significant challenges to nations.

There is also a risk regarding our levels of production and consumption, since it has an unsustainable impact on the environment. Resource constraints may result from population increase. Rapid population growth puts more people in competition for limited water supplies and increases the number of hungry families as climate change adversely affects crop output in many regions of the world.

Environmental concerns surrounding the 8 billion mark should, according to Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, concentrate on consumption, especially in rich countries. We need to alter our consuming habits, he continued, noting that population growth is not the issue, but how we consume.