World's population to hit 7.2 billion next month, says UN report

The population of the world will reach 7.2 billion next month and 10.9 billion by 2100, with most of the growth a result of high birth rates in the developing world, the UN says.

The UN's latest "World Population Prospects" report says the number of people inhabiting the planet at the start of the next century could top 16.6 billion or, depending on the statistical model, could be as low as 6.8 billion.

In either case, the population in the world's poorest regions was anticipated to rise dramatically, the UN said.

The number of inhabitants in the world's least developed countries is projected to double, from 898 million inhabitants this year to 1.8 billion in 2050. The number would soar to 2.9 billion by 2100, the UN report said.

"Although population growth has slowed for the world as a whole, this report reminds us that some developing countries, especially in Africa, are still growing rapidly," Wu Hongbo, United Nations undersecretary general for economic and social affairs, said.

In other findings, the UN study said India would surpass China as the world's most populous country around 2028, when both nations would have about 1.45 billion people.