The United Nations has said that the world's population will rise to 11.2 billion by the end of the century

The world's population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050 before hitting 11.2 billion people by the end of the century, a new UN report says.

The research also claimed that India's population is set to pass China's in size around 2022.

Population estimates play a huge role as the international community tries to figure out how to slow the danger of global warming while pursuing the ambitious goals of eliminating poverty and hunger.

The current world population is 7.3 billion.

Nine countries are expected to make up half of the world's population growth between now and 2050: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the US, Indonesia and Ghana.