Global population to reach 7 billion by October-end

The world's population will hit seven billion by the end of October with five babies being born every second, adding 78 million people to the global community each year, experts have predicted.

By the end of October, it will reach seven billion. The population was three billion in 1960 and six billion as recently as 1999.

And, according to the United Nations, the next landmark statistic will be eight billion in 2025.

Much of the dramatic increase can be accounted for by the world's poorest nations, which are expected to double their numbers over the next decade.

"With the population still growing by about 80 million each year, it's hard not to be alarmed," said Robert Kunzig, author of an article entitled ''7 Billion' in the National Geographic magazine.

"Right now on Earth, water tables are falling, soil is eroding, glaciers are melting, and fish stocks are vanishing. Close to a billion people go hungry each day," he added.