World Population to Hit 7 Billion By Oct. 31

But we're still a ways behind the 10 quadrillion or so ants that call Earth home.

Alright, humanity, if we stick it out for just another two weeks, we're going to make it to seven billion, according to the UN, which says we'll eclipse that mark come Halloween. Considering we hit the one billion mark back in 1803 or so, the past 200 years have really been banner centuries for our inability to keep it in our pants, so to speak. Special thanks go to South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, who have really been pulling their weight in recent decades. (Russia, Japan, and much Europe, not so much, though. Pick it up a bit.) The UN says Sub-Saharan Africa's 900 million people could more than double to two billion in 40 years, which would be great for the species' ledger once we're obliterated by a solar flare or asteroid or alien war, but not so great for the actual inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa, as their access to food, jobs, clean water, and other life essentials will be marginal at best. Still! Seven billion! That's way better than Paul Ehrlich ever said we'd do.