The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) projects that the global population will reach 7 billion in 2011, just 12 years after surpassing 6 billion. Poor and developing nations will be the center for the growth.

According to the PRB’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet, the populace of “less developed countries” (LDC) will increase from 5.6 billion people in 2009 to 8.1 billion in 2050. In contrast, “more developed countries” (MDC) will only grow from 1.2 to 1.3 billion during the same period.

The PRB estimates, “Between 2009 and 2050, virtually all population growth will take place in the LDCs.”

According to the report, “Even though Canada and Uganda have close to the same population today, Uganda is projected to have more than double Canada’s population by 2050.”

For MDC, most growth will take place in Canada and the United States. In many MDCs, any population increase will be due mostly to immigration from less developed nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

To hit the 7 billion mark, the number alive on Earth will have to increase by over 221 million before the end of 2011.