The stork has been busy lately. The United Nations said recently that it expects the world’s seven billionth baby to be born on October 31st. While many have expressed concern and even outright fear for the fate of the planet under such duress, others are calling on the occasion for renewed efforts at family planning, environmental sustainability, education for all and radical plans to redistribute wealth. Here’s a look at the world’s population over the years, according to the United Nations Population Fund:
| 1 billion – 1804 | 5 billion – 1987 |
| 2 billion – 1927 | 6 billion - 1999 |
| 3 billion – 1959 | 7 billion – 2011 |
| 4 billion – 1974 |
