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] 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] By 2045, the rural population is expected to grow 4.4% and the urban population to grow 34.9% (Canada: up 0.3% and 17.4%, respectively). Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
• [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. / Australia Brightstar 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
• [New] The population of Americans between 65-84 will grow by 7 million from 2025 to 2030. KPMG
• [New] An ageing population will sharply increase demand for health and social care, with the social-care sector alone likely to require close to half a million additional workers over the next decade. Tony Blair Institute
• [New] Nearly 11% of the global population lives in low-lying coastal areas directly exposed to climate-related hazards. Turkiye
• [New] Local governments with a combined population of more than 100 million people have declared net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, set even more ambitious 2030 targets, and are introducing pioneering policies to achieve them. / Japan Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] Asia, which accounted for around 60% of the global population at the beginning of the 20th century, is expected to see its share decline to about 45% by the century's close. GreenWatchBD
• [New] The increasing geriatric population globally is the foundational growth driver, with the number of people aged 65 and older projected to more than double by 2050. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• [New] The older adult population in Canada is expected to grow by 68% between 2017 and 2037; the number of individuals aged 75 and older will double by 2037. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Canada, with its diverse and aging population, faces unique challenges and opportunities in promoting digital inclusion for older adults. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Nigeria's population is projected to exceed 260 million by 2030, with a median age of approximately 18, making it one of the youngest populations globally. Fragomen - Immigration attorneys, solicitors, and consu
• [New] In the European Union, the working-age population is projected to decline by roughly 6% between 2022 and 2035 (Eurostat 2023-2024; UNDESA 2024), even assuming continued net migration levels. Fragomen - Immigration attorneys, solicitors, and consu
• [New] While the world's population of 8.3 billion is projected to continue growing throughout most of the 21st century, low fertility rates and demographic ageing are seen as challenges rather than accomplishments. Inter Press Service
• [New] Japan's population will fall below 100 million by around 2055, decline to 90.5 million by 2070, and stabilize at the end of the century with a modest rebound. Nature
• [New] Based on the federal government's latest Immigration Levels Plan, the parliamentary budget officer projects 2026 will be Canada's second consecutive year of zero population growth. CP24

Last updated: 02 April 2026