'Day of 8 Billion' Marks Global Population Milestone

The United Nations celebrated November 15 as the “Day of 8 Billion” – the date the world’s population hit the 8 billion mark. The U.N. says much of the population growth over the next three decades will come from eight countries and half of them are in sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grant Leaity, United Nations Population Fund country director for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, spoke to VOA’s Carol Van Dam on the 3.2% estimated annual population growth and the challenges and opportunities for the nation.