The world population is expected to reach seven billion people in 2011 and possibly 9.4 billion people by 2050, Bulgarian BTA news agency quoted US Population Reference Bureau's report on August 13 2009.

Much of this growth will take place in developing nations, BTA said. This projection follows a UN figure of 9.1 billion people which was presented in Match 2007.

According to Population Reference Bureau's report between 2009 and 2050, nearly all population growth will take place in less-developed countries, where there have been increases in public health and a decline in death rates.

The Asian population is expected to grow the most by mid-century, with its current population of four billion increasing by 1.3 billion, despite declining birth rates in several countries like Japan.

Africa, the region with the highest birth rates and largest percentage of population growth, is projected to see its current population of nearly one billion double by 2050.

The population of Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to see a modest increase of 25 per cent to 724 million people by 2050.

The US population is expected to grow from 307 million to 439 million people by 2050, largely due to immigration.
Low birth rates are expected to shrink Europe's population from 738 million people to 702 million, despite continuing immigration, the report said.

According to the last census held in Bulgaria in 2006, the country's population was 7 606 551 people.