Population ecology

One of the happiest countries in the world dangerously flirts with antidepressant overconsumption

On current trends the world population will reach a high of 8.8 billion before the middle of the century, then decline rapidly

As we usher in the new year, the global population is on the verge of reaching a significant milestone, surging past eight billion individuals, with an increase of 75 million people this year alone, reports the Associated Press.

A forecast released by Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI) paints a concerning picture for the country's demographic future. By the year 2075, the projection suggests a significant decrease in Bulgaria's population, foreseeing a drop to 4,972,000 individuals, with a quarter of the populace aged 65 and above.

Policy-makers, experts, environmentalists and representatives of NGOs and companies discussed ways that can help reduce Slovenia's ecological footprint at a panel held in Ljubljana ahead of Earth Overshoot Day, the day when humanity's demand on nature exceeds Earth's biocapacity. This year Earth Overshoot Day falls on 2 August.

Slovenia's fertility rate declined to 1.55 last year from 1.64 the year before as under 18,000 children were born, 7% less than in 2021, the latest Statistics Office data show.

The 17,627 births, or 8.4 per 1,000 population, is the fifth lowest number in the 101 years since population statistics have been available.

Circulatory system diseases were the main cause of deaths in Türkiye last year, the data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has shown.

The birth rate in Turkey decreased for the seventh year in a row, data for 2022 show, reaching 1.62 live births per woman, Anadolu Agency reported, citing a statement from the Turkish Statistical Institute - Turksat (Europe announced a value of 1.53 for 2021).

The planet's population is expected to grow to around 10 billion before the end of the 21st century, according to United Nations projections. But this cannot be said for Europe, which, according to the same estimates, will see its numbers shrink to 7.3% of the world by 2050 from 22% in 1950 and 9.5% today.

The world population reached 8 billion already at the end of last year. The UN predicts that between 2050 and 2060 there will be 10 billion people on the planet. After that, experts predict a decline or stagnation of the population. The fastest-growing population is in the poorest countries. In Bulgaria, as everywhere in Europe, the trend is downward.