MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

What a crowd! Seven billion in 2012

World population will reach seven billion in seven years time pushed by the demographic growth in developing countries according to a private report.

Population Reference Bureau a private research group said the expansion will happen in spite of a significant birth rate descent in developed countries.

World population currently stands at 6,5 billion and by 2012 will reach seven billion with 99% of births in developing countries.

Birth rate in developing countries is three times faster than in industrialized countries", explained Carl Haub, demographer from Population Reference Bureau.

According to Mr. Haub world demographic growth in the last few years has undergone important changes besides the "implosion" effect in some European countries, because of a drop in some of the developing countries birth rate.

In some of the newly industrialized countries such as China and Thailand the average couple now has two children, while in most developing countries the average is three children.

China currently has the world's largest population, 1,3 billion, but because of the decreasing birth rate it will be overtaken by runner up India in 2050 with 1,6 billion.