Final answer:
Global fertility and birth rates are on the decline, influenced by urbanization and higher living standards. This trend suggests the world population might peak sooner than expected, although substantial growth is still anticipated by 2030.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global fertility and birth rates have been decreasing, leading to the belief that world population numbers will peak earlier than expected. This trend is prominent due to a variety of factors, such as individuals moving from agricultural roles into urban centers, leading to smaller family sizes and lower population growth rates, especially in developing countries. Despite this, the world's population will still grow substantially by 2030 due to the compounding effect of a large base population.
In general, as countries become more industrialized and urbanized, family sizes tend to shrink as living standards improve. The United Nations projects that while some countries with high fertility might experience significant population increases, those with low fertility are likely to witness a decline in their populations.