The planet is still on track to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, yet most families are having fewer children than they want. Longer lives, lower fertility and uneven migration now demand a rethink of how societies support parents and care for an ageing population.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) projects that global population will grow another 20-30% from 2020 to 2050 before starting to level off around 2100.
Behind the headline figure, average fertility has plunged from five children per woman in the 1950s to 2.3 today and is expected to reach the “replacement level” of 2.1 by mid-century.
Two-thirds of humanity already lives in low-fertility contexts, where economic pressure, costly housing and education, unequal care duties and patchy reproductive-health services keep birth rates below what couples say they would like.
Short-term fixes such as baby bonuses rarely work, UNFPA warns. Instead, evidence shows that affordable childcare, flexible work, shared parental leave, gender equality and secure incomes help families reach their desired size while preparing economies for older populations.
The report also said that countries which overhaul pensions, healthcare and workplace rules early can turn demographic change into an opportunity rather than a crisis.
Germany has urged Iran to resume cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog amid concerns over rising tensions with Israel, warning that Tehran’s recent moves send the “wrong signal” and risk derailing a fragile ceasefire.
Turkmen and Russian foreign ministers met in Ashgabat on 25 June and signed a bilateral cooperation program for 2025–2026, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening political and economic ties.
North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.
Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire BP in a historic £60 billion deal, despite ongoing market speculation about a potential merger between the two oil giants.
Meta has snapped up three star researchers from OpenAI's Zurich lab, escalating the fierce battle for top Artificial Intelligence talent as tech giants race to dominate the next era of artificial intelligence.
Germany has urged Iran to resume cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog amid concerns over rising tensions with Israel, warning that Tehran’s recent moves send the “wrong signal” and risk derailing a fragile ceasefire.
Singapore has launched its largest-ever study on paediatric food allergies, aiming to better understand and address the growing burden of allergic reactions among children.
Turkmen and Russian foreign ministers met in Ashgabat on 25 June and signed a bilateral cooperation program for 2025–2026, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening political and economic ties.
Türkiye supports NATO's new 5% defence spending target and says it has already surpassed the previous 2% benchmark, according to a Turkish defense ministry source.
China’s military said it will step up combat readiness in response to recent remarks by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, accusing him of endangering peace and pushing the island toward war.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Germany has urged Iran to resume cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog amid concerns over rising tensions with Israel, warning that Tehran’s recent moves send the “wrong signal” and risk derailing a fragile ceasefire.
Türkiye supports NATO's new 5% defence spending target and says it has already surpassed the previous 2% benchmark, according to a Turkish defense ministry source.
China’s military said it will step up combat readiness in response to recent remarks by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, accusing him of endangering peace and pushing the island toward war.
North Korea may send more troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine as early as July or August, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency, which also says Pyongyang is continuing arms shipments to Moscow.
North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.
Germany has urged Iran to resume cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog amid concerns over rising tensions with Israel, warning that Tehran’s recent moves send the “wrong signal” and risk derailing a fragile ceasefire.
Singapore has launched its largest-ever study on paediatric food allergies, aiming to better understand and address the growing burden of allergic reactions among children.
Turkmen and Russian foreign ministers met in Ashgabat on 25 June and signed a bilateral cooperation program for 2025–2026, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening political and economic ties.
Türkiye supports NATO's new 5% defence spending target and says it has already surpassed the previous 2% benchmark, according to a Turkish defense ministry source.
China’s military said it will step up combat readiness in response to recent remarks by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, accusing him of endangering peace and pushing the island toward war.
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