The world population exceeded eight billion Tuesday, according to estimates by the United Nations Population Division.

"This threshold is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and evolution, while keeping in mind humanity's shared responsibility to the planet," the UN Secretary-General said in a statement.

The United Nations attributes population growth to human development, as people live longer thanks to improved public health services, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicines.

It is also the result of high fertility rates, especially in the world's poorest countries, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, which puts development goals at risk.

Population growth exacerbated the environmental ramifications of economic development.

But while some fear that the number of eight billion people will exceed the capabilities of the planet, most experts point out that the biggest problem lies in the excessive consumption of resources by the richest people.
  Source: AFP