According to the United Nations, it really isn't such a small world after all as the population is expected to reach 7 billion people on the 31st of October 2011. This is quite a change from 1927 when the world population was a mere 2 billion. But the pace of growth is not going to end anytime soon, with global predictions of 9.3 billion people by 2050 and 15 billion by the year 2100.
With the date fast approaching news organisations have been running a variety of stories about what the big number 7 means for the world. Here are some web highlights that utilise interactive online tools:
- 7 Billion Actions, Established by the United Nations Population Fund, inspires change that will make a difference by highlighting positive action by individuals and organizations around the world. Also see the web site's data page for interactive web content.
- Country population: past, present and future, Interactive map by the Guardian with population figures from 1950-2010 and projections for 2100.
- 7 billion people and you: What's your number? Web tool by BBC News that lets you find out how many people were alive the day you were born.
- World Population - Live Update, Second by second world population clock by Interactive Mathematics.
- The World of Seven Billion, National Geographic 4-piece infographic.
- The Face of 7 Billion, Graphic in which the world's 7 billion population is depicted by 7,000 human figures, each representing a million people.
