Global Scans · Population · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, up 1 billion from 2016. Western economies are declining in numbers and emerging economies witnessing burgeoning growth.

• [New] With globalization, increasing human population, climate change, and other factors, global vulnerabilities to emerging diseases, including pandemics, are growing. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] If UN Population Division projections for 2050 hold true, the world will experience 1.6 times more deaths in 2050 than in 2019, implying a surge in demand for healthcare driven by a growing older-age population. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Heat-related mortality among the elderly was projected to rise by more than 250% in the 2080s under RCP8.5 and a medium population growth scenario in China, and the global meningitis incidence was projected to increase by more than 180% in severe climate change scenarios by 2100. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Considering that more than 80% of the global population currently resides in LMICs, climate change, therefore, risks impacting a massive proportion of the global population. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] India's energy demand is projected to increase more than that of any other country in the coming decades due to its population size and economic potential. Tata Power
• [New] A new University of Oxford study finds that almost half of the global population (3.79 billion) will be living with extreme heat by 2050 if the world reaches 2.0 °C of global warming above pre-industrial levels - a scenario that climate scientists see as increasingly likely. Oxford University
• [New] A growing, aging population and rising disease burden are colliding with persistent workforce shortages-highlighted by projections that new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. will surpass two million in 2026 alone. MarketScale
• [New] The Silver Tsunami: As the 65+ population in California grows toward a projected 25% of the total state population by 2030, high demand for limited caregivers naturally drives prices upward. 24 Hour Caregivers, Inc.
• [New] New guidance from the Pan American Health Organization highlights rising long-term care demand as Mexico's aging population increases dependency risks. Mexico Business
• [New] Asia Pacific is growing at a compounding annual growth rate of 5.84% during the predicted timeframe, owing to increasing urbanization, a strong pharmaceutical base, rising disposable incomes, and a growing geriatric population, which contributes to a surge in demand for muscle relaxants. Precedence Research
• [New] Globally, by 2050, the number of people aged 60 or older is projected to reach 2.1 billion, double the 2020 population. Scientific Research Publishing
• [New] Because of Bangladesh's high population density, dengue cases could easily jump from one lakh to 10 lakh. The Daily Star
• [New] Due to the increasing aging population throughout the world, there is a great opportunity for the use of physical AI in the areas of personal support, assistance with mobility, remote monitoring and rehabilitation robotics. Acumen Research and Consulting
• [New] Unless birth rates or immigration rates change, the U.S. population will begin to shrink. PBS News Hour Classroom
• [New] By 2050, the older adult population will surpass the adolescent population around the world. SpringerLink
• [New] By 2070, the Canadian population aged 65 and older, which was estimated at 7 million in 2022, is expected to double to between 14 and 16 million. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Population growth increases food demand, and rising global living standards, particularly the adoption of protein-rich diets, are projected to drive a 2% compound annual growth rate in global protein consumption through 2050. SpringerLink
• [New] Younger Australians face the brunt of climate change and an ageing population, and are far more likely to be affected by threats such as the potential for AI-driven job losses. Grattan Institute
• [New] As generational change accelerates, the portion of the UK population preferring fintech services will only increase, supporting the continued growth projected by Mordor Intelligence. TechBullion
• [New] The future of global digital banking will be shaped primarily by the preferences of Asia Pacific's young, urban, fintech-native population. TechBullion
• [New] Climate change in Antarctica is leading to changes in sea ice that are projected to cause the emperor penguin population to halve by the 2080s, while reduced food availability has already driven a 50% reduction in the Antarctic fur seal population since 2000. vancouversun
• [New] Canada's total population is expected to shrink in 2026 for the first year on record, which will drag on how quickly real GDP expands. The Guardian

Last updated: 23 April 2026