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] Population growth and rising economic activity in developing parts of the world are increasing vehicle ownership, aviation demand, and freight volumes; future energy needs for the transportation sector will depend on how quickly new technologies scale and how quickly vehicle fleets turn over.
Resources for the Future
[New] The approaching urbanization dilemma - as estimates have suggested that 66-70% of the world's population will reside in cities by 2050 - has accelerated academic discussion of sustainable urban development.
PubMed Central (PMC)
[New] Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024), the global population of older adults aged 65 and above is expected to increase from 6.8% in 2000 to 14.3% by 2040, marking the transition into a more aged society.
PubMed Central (PMC)
[New] 16.4% of the world population is projected to be 65 years or older by 2050, nearly doubling the current share, which is likely to push demand for health services even further.
Cambridge Core
[New] In all, 22-39% of the global population is projected to be out of the human climate niche by 2080-2100, if current climate policies persist.
Cambridge Core
[New] Annual car sales will slowly increase until 2050 due to population growth.
PubMed Central (PMC)
[New] On Wednesday Pakistan will surpass Indonesia in population growth within the next five years.
Dawn
[New] By 2030, millennials and Gen Z will dominate the U.S. population and drive 60% of retail sales growth.
Digiday
[New] Although the aging population percentages vary across countries, many regions will see a doubling of people aged 65 and over between 2012 and 2050.
Frontiers
[New] Housing activity is expected to remain weak in 2026, with subdued consumer confidence and slowing population growth limiting housing demand.
CNW Group
[New] Boston Borough's population is projected to grow by 9.1% between 2025 and 2041, compared to 6% for England.
GOV.UK
[New] As the global population and average income levels grow, if no major change occurs in the way we own and use private vehicles, the trend of increased car ownership and heavier cars such as SUVs (both electric and conventional powertrains) could continue.
Frontiers
[New] Feeding a global population nearing 10 billion by 2050 will require a ~50% increase in food production, placing additional strain on water resources.
Seametrics
[New] With a projected GDP growth of 6.6% in 2026, India is riding a wave of tailwinds: a young and dynamic population, a rapidly expanding middle class, and massive government investment in infrastructure.
Commons Capital
[New] Key Insight: In 2026, over 50% of the world's population will live in urban areas, amplifying the importance of city-centric, resource-efficient food production models like vertical farming.
Farmonaut
[New] Given the large proportion of the world population currently entering retirement, the need for supporting technologies that offer assistance and an enhanced user experience will rise dramatically.
Siemens
[New] The population affected by water scarcity in Africa will nearly quadruple, from 80 million in 2016 to 311 million in 2050.
Siemens
[New] Africa's population will almost double between 2000 and 2050, while the populations of Europe and China will decrease.
Siemens
[New] Informed Decisions (2026) projects a 38% rise in the regional older population by 2046, while 25% of the current workforce will retire within 10 years. / AustraliaBrightstar Nursing Australia
[New] Ageing demographics with 2 billion people aged 60+ expected by 2050, combined with rising procedure volumes (over 1 million annual hip / knee replacements in the U.S. alone), create sustained demand.
Persistence Market Research
Last updated: 09 April 2026
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