By FP Analytics, with support from the Population Institute
JULY 2025
The global population is projected to peak at around 10.3 billion and gradually decline by the end of the century. While more than half of all countries now have fertility rates below the replacement level, fertility rates remain high in sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries—driving continued global population growth through 2050. Declining fertility, shaped by rising education, urbanization, and expanded opportunities for women, is prompting many governments to reconsider long-held assumptions about economic growth and demographic stability. This Insight Brief by FP Analytics, produced with support from the Population Institute, explores the implications of these demographic trends, the risks of reactionary policies aimed at reversing fertility declines, and the urgent need to center reproductive rights and autonomy in population policy debates. Download the Insight Brief.