Interactive ‘7 Billion and Me’ Exhibit Personalizes Demographic Trends

Since 1968, the population of our world has doubled, and will surpass 7 billion on 31 October of this year. Despite major declines in the average number of children per women, population growth is projected to continue at least until the middle of the 21st century.

But what does this mean for you?

A new interactive application, 7 Billion and Me , can give help put these huge numbers in perspective. It allows users to relate their own personal characteristics -- such as age, sex, date and place of birth, and current residence -- to the rest of the world’s 7 billion people.

For instance, after plugging in personal data, here are some of the questions you can answer:

How many people lived on earth the day you were born?
How old were you when world population reached 5, 6 or 7 billion?
How old will you be when we will reach 8 or 9 billion?
How many people have lived before you?
How many mothers had babies the day your mother gave birth to you?
Are you younger or older than most of the people in your country?
Do your compatriots live in towns and cities or in rural areas?
How many residents did your city have when you were born or when you moved there?
How many live there now?

But beyond simple answers to these questions, you can compare yourself to the rest of the world population and see how you fit in.

“7 Billion and Me allows you understand the dynamics of population change better,” said Jose Miguel Guzman, Chief of UNFPA’s Population and Development Branch, which created the application. “Take a little time to explore it. You might be surprised at what you will find out.”

7 Billion and Me is part of the 7 Billion Actions initiative, which aims to engage people from all walks of life in the opportunities and challenges presented by a world of 7 billion people. A set of interactive data visualizations were launched earlier in the week as part of the initiative.