Beyond 7 billion

After remaining stable for most of human history, the world's population has exploded over the last two centuries. The boom is not over: The biggest generation in history is just entering its childbearing years. The coming wave will reshape the planet, and the impact will be greatest in the poorest, most unstable countries.

By Kenneth R. Weiss :: Photography by Rick Loomis

Population Hunger Water Emissions Contraception Source | Key

1950 2010 2050 2100

1980 1990 2000 2010

Total population by country

Source: United Nations, "World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision"

Percent of population that is malnourished

Note: Undernourishment statistics are from 2006-08 with the exception of Afghanistan and Somalia, which are from 1995-97.

Source: U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization

Renewable freshwater resources

Source: U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization

Total carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of energy

Source: Department of Energy

Percentage of women who use modern contraception

Note: Use of modern contraceptive methods such as pills, IUDs or surgical sterilization among married women of childbearing years. Smaller circles represent countries where contraceptive use is lowest.

Source: United Nations

Note: Country groupings as defined by United Nations.

Part 1 The biggest generation

Part 2 Tinderbox of youth

Part 3 Hunger without end

Part 4 The China effect

Part 5 Dream out of reach

Across six countries: Countless faces, hardship and hope

For more on the photographer's journey, see Framework »

Part 1

The biggest generation

Even with birthrates falling, the huge number of people in their childbearing years means world population will continue to soar.

Part 2

Tinderbox of youth

Why most of the world's civil conflicts occur in countries with young, fast-growing populations.

Part 3

Hunger without end

Four decades ago, the world seemed to be gaining ground on a scourge. Then the population nearly doubled.

Part 4

The China effect

Even with its curbs on population growth, the nation is having an enormous ecological impact on the planet.

Part 5

Dream out of reach

In the Philippine capital, contraception has become largely inaccessible to the poor.

The world population is currently estimated to be:

Source: Princeton University Office of Population Research / What is this?

While you've been reading, the Earth's population has increased by... 0 people.

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About this counter

The numbers displayed on this counter are estimates of the global population at any given time. They are based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates and projections. The counter has been synchronized with the Census Bureau's World Population Clock (http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html), using software developed by Princeton University's Office of Population Research (http://opr.princeton.edu/popclock/). More information about the Census Bureau projections is available here (http://www.census.gov/population/popwnotes.html).

About This Series

Los Angeles Times staff writer Kenneth R. Weiss and staff photographer Rick Loomis traveled across Africa and Asia to document the causes and consequences of rapid population growth. They visited Kenya, Uganda, China, the Philippines, India, Afghanistan and other countries.

Weiss, a graduate of UC Berkeley, has been a Times reporter and editor since 1990. He has covered politics, government, higher education, science and the environment.

Loomis has been a Times photojournalist since 1994. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in photojournalism and a minor in Latin American studies.

He has reported extensively from Afghanistan, often accompanying U.S. Army, Marine or Special Forces units. He also covered the popular uprisings in Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia and Libya.

Interactive Developer: Armand Emamdjomeh; Design Director: Stephanie Ferrell; Data Visualization: Thomas Suh Lauder, Ken Schwencke

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