THE global population is to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, according to revised projections which are increasing the fears of global famine. Previous predictions had estimated the global population would hit nine billion by the middle of the century, but a report from the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Population Division forecasts now puts it at 8.6 billion by 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. The report says roughly 83 million people are added to the global population each year, and although birth rates are on average slowing across the globe, so too are death rates, leading to an older population. The report, titled 'The World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision', says that the population of over 60s will more than double from the current 962 million to 2.1 billion by 2050 – putting a strain on healthcare. Africa is leading the charge in terms of population growth, and the research states India will take over China as the world's most