The United Nations released a new report on Monday which predicted the world's population will expand by nearly 2 billion people over the next 26 years, according to Phys Org.
The "World Population Prospects" report said half of that growth will be concentrated in only nine countries as the rest of the world continues to get older.
India is projected by UN experts to become the world's most populated country by 2027.
The report said by 2050 more than half the world's population will be spread across India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt, and the United States.
The report called on the nine listed countries to adopt policies which are modified for the demographic projections, including providing more assistance for the elderly and for children.
Experts also said the country's need to increase funding for education and employment efforts due to a boom in the working-age population.
The report also said the world's population could reach nearly 11 billion by 2100.
The world's 47 least-developed countries were all included in some of the fastest growing populations.
Lu Zhenmin, UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, told The Associated Press that "growth brings additional challenges" as countries try to eradicate poverty, promote gender equality, and improve health care and education.
"To benefit from this 'demographic dividend,' governments should invest in education and health, especially for young people, and create conditions conducive to sustained economic growth," the report said.
The report said Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to double its population by 2050, adding 1 billion people with a growth rate of nearly 99 percent.
That is likely due to the area having one of the highest fertility rates in the world, with 4.6 births for every woman, compared to 1.7 in Europe and North America.
Experts also said while some areas have baby booms, many other locations will deal with increased life expectancy creating more elderly citizens.
North America and Europe are projected to have the slowest growth at 2 percent, which could lead to one in four people living in North America and Europe being aged 65 or older by 2050.
For the first time in history, there were more people aged 65 years or older around the world compared to children under 5 years old in 2018.
The projections show that there will be more than twice as many people older than 65 in 2050.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody