The population on the Earth will hit 6.5 billion at 19:16 Eastern Standard Time, Feb. 25, 2006, which is a milestone growth, American science magazine LifeScience said on Feb. 24 on its website, citing a forecast by U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bureau also predicts that the planet's population will exceed seven billion on Oct. 18, 2012.

A report by the administration says that the global population had hit six billion in June 1999, 2.5 times more than that in early 20th century or approximately double that in 1960.

It took only 12 years for the world population to grow from five billion to six billion. Currently, 4.4 babies are born per second on average at an ever startling rate.

The population growth rate of a country is related to its birth rate, mortality rate, living standard, medical care, and economic development. From now to 2050, populations will mount in most countries and it is predicted that by 2050 there will be three billion more people on the planet.

Two major trends are seen in the current growing world population: relatively fewer in Europe and fast rate in developing countries. Experts say in the past 50 years, populations grew most rapidly where such growth can be afforded the least.

By People's Daily Online