The planet is now 8 billion strong. An announcement that comes in a context marked by the unequal distribution of population and accumulated wealth between continents, regions and nations of the world. The good news ? People are living longer and having fewer children. Brief update on the situation in Morocco.
It will have taken only eleven years to populate the planet with this extra billion. On this occasion, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, UNFPA in Morocco celebrated several births which coincided with November 15, the date on which the world population passed the milestone of 8 billion. inhabitants. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the opportunities available to the world’s population and the challenges linked to a number of demographic issues. Today, the debates revolve around the question of the changes to be made. The world reached 7 billion people in 2011 and the UN predicts that it will not reach 9 billion for 15 years.
This deceleration in population growth is due to a number of factors, including more readily available birth control and better education. That said, some countries have such low birth rates that the UN predicts they won’t be able to sustain their population. Regarding the age structure of the population of Morocco, we are witnessing an inversion of the age pyramid, with an increase in the population of working age among the elderly.
On the other hand, we note a decline in the proportion of young people, which will continue mainly because of the decline in fertility. Something that will lead to a decrease in the population of children. The number of children under 15 would fall from 9.3 million to almost 7.8 million between 2022 and 2050 and their weight would drop from 25% to around 18% in 2050. The report also notes a regression in workforce supposed to be educated between preschool and higher education (3-22 years), the rate of which would drop from 33.6% to 24.5% between 2022 and 2050.
The report notes that this decline might constitute an asset in order to raise the performance of the education system in terms of quality and school attendance. Otherwise, the continuation of the observed trend marked by several problems, in particular wastage, spatial disparities and low school attendance, might have a negative impact on Morocco’s human capital and its competitiveness.
The pressure on the labor market will not stop
Still according to statistics, the number of potential workers (15-59 years old) would increase from 22.9 to 25.7 million and will exert greater pressure on the job market. The number of young people entering the labor market (18-24 years old) should fluctuate around 4 million in the coming years. This pressure on the labor market would increase with the foreseeable increasing entry of women in the years to come, thanks to their advanced education.
The number of households will increase
The number of households would increase from 8.8 million currently to nearly 13.7 million in 2050, an increase of 43%. We will also note a decrease in the average size of households, which will be from 4.2 in 2022 to 3.2 in 2050. This evolution of households would pose challenges in terms of the creation of housing and capital goods.
Indeed, 5 million new homes will be needed. The question of migration was also raised, and in particular international migration, which, according to the report, is a major factor in demographic change. All countries – whether experiencing migrant “inflows or outflows” – should do all they can to bring order and stability to these changes, say the report’s authors. According to the United Nations, the average life expectancy at birth is expected to increase from 72.98 years in 2019 to 77.2 years in 2050, the growth rate will continue to slow across the world.
Forecasts indicate that India will be the most populous country in the world in 2023 and will remain so until 2050, overtaking China. The United States will be replaced by Nigeria as the third most populous country during the same period. Since last year, the life expectancy of the least developed countries was seven years lower than that of the most developed countries since last year.
The UN has also warned, in this sense, that countries with older populations will have to develop better systems to take care of their elders, including social security and universally available health care.
Damien is the inhabitant number 8 billion
But who is the eight billionth earthling? Damián is the famous number 8 billion inhabitant of planet Earth. He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Kenza Aziouzi / ECO Inspirations
