plate 007 · Humanity
The world has already passed peak child
Children under 5 worldwide, millions, UN estimates and medium projection.
698M in 2017
The number of young children on Earth peaked in 2017. By 2024 it was 647 million.
−21% by 2100
The UN projects 550 million under-5s in 2100, far below the peak.
2.2 billion
People aged 65+ are projected to reach 2.2 billion by the late 2070s, outnumbering under-18s.
the numbers
| Year | Children under 5 (M) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 696 |
| 2017 | 698 |
| 2020 | 683 |
| 2024 | 647 |
| 2030 | 645 |
| 2050 | 656 |
| 2100 | 550 |
source notes & method
Values via Yang Liu's WPP 2024 tabulation and StatisticsTimes; 2026 value 642M. Under-5 values before 2015 not shown. 65+ crossover from UN WPP 2024 Key Messages.
Published 20 Sep 2026
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