World population to hit eight billion mark this year, but growth rate is slowing: UN

This year, the world population will pass the 8 billion mark. AP - Altaf Qadri

The world's population is expected to reach eight billion on 15 November, the UN forecast Monday in a report that said India will surpass China as the most populous country on earth in 2023, but growth rate is declining.

That overall population milestone "is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another," Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, without citing specifics.