7,000,000,000 How world's population hit huge landmark

THE world's population will hit SEVEN BILLION in the next few days, according to United Nations estimates.

The landmark comes just 12 years after the total reached six billion.

The rate of increase is staggering. Many people alive today were born when the world population was less than two billion.

And Britain is mirroring the world's expansion. In 1801, our population was 10.5million — today it is close to 62million.

Here, we tell the story of the planet's rising population.

ICY START When the last big Ice Age began 70,000 years ago, there were just 15,000 Homo sapiens — the Latin name for modern humans — and none lived in the area that was to be called Britain.

LONELY BRITAIN Humans only reached Britain 30,000 years ago. When people first left Africa they followed warm coastal routes and headed south.   Full Read