Is this cause for celebration? It is World Population Day. Experts are divided on whether humanity’s survival requires more or fewer people.
Earth population may be ‘billions bigger’
Peak people?: The world's population expanded rapidly in the second half of the 20th Century — and may actually be larger than we think. Glossary
United Nations - An international organisation focused on keeping peace. Its refugee agency, the UNHCR, aims to assist refugees around the world.
Census - An official count of the number of people in a country. In England and Wales, a census takes place every decade.
Thomas Malthus - A clergyman who was interested in maths and political thought and became famous for his extremely influential work An Essay on the Principle of Population. Predictions about population growth leading to food shortages are known as “Malthusian” after him.
Demographers - Academics who specialist in demography, the study of human population growth and decline.
Fertility - The ability to have a child.
Famine - A widespread scarcity of food.