World's population 'to hit 7 billion by October-end'

The world's population will hit seven billion by the end of October with five babies being born every second, experts have predicted.

A little over a decade ago, the world's population stood at six billion.

But, with five babies being born every second, 78 million people are added to the global community each year.

By the end of October, it will reach seven billion, a London-based local newspaper reported.

The population was three billion in 1960 and six billion as recently as 1999.

And, according to the United Nations, the next landmark statistic will be eight billion in 2025.

Much of the dramatic increase can be accounted for by the world's poorest nations, which are expected to double their numbers over the next decade.

"With the population still growing by about 80 million each year, it's hard not to be alarmed," said Robert Kunzig, author of an article entitled '7 Billion' in the 'National Geographic' magazine.

"Right now on Earth, water tables are falling, soil is eroding, glaciers are melting, and fish stocks are vanishing. Close to a billion people go hungry each day," he added.

The experts say the world's population will level off at about nine billion in the middle of the century.

"How we're going to feed nine billion people by 2050 is a daunting question," Kunzig said.

There are currently 1.8 billion young people, aged between 10 and 24.

Demographers say the average couple needs to have 2.1 children to keep the population steady.

In parts of Europe and East Asia, there is growing concern that there will not be enough young people to support the growing number of retirees.