What the sources establish
- UN DESA estimated a global population of 8.2 billion in 2024.
- That edition projected a peak near 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s.
- It projected roughly 10.2 billion by the end of the century.
How to read the bigger picture
A projected global peak does not imply that every country follows the same path. Age structures, migration, and local service capacity matter more for many policy decisions than a single world total.
What we should keep in view
- This is retained background from the 2024 edition.
- Projections depend on assumptions and are not guaranteed outcomes.
- No unverified 2026 replacement edition is asserted.
What would change the picture?
- Use country age structures for local planning.
- Check for a verified replacement before updating projections.
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