World's 6 Billionth Inhabitant Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina

In a historic moment, the world's symbolic 6 billionth inhabitant, a baby boy, was born at Kosevo Hospital in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, bringing attention to the country's tumultuous past and the ongoing struggle of its people. The child's birth coincided with the announcement of the world's population reaching 6 billion, a milestone that reflects the rapid growth of the global population. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was present at the hospital to officially bestow the honor on the child and his family.

Key Takeaways:

• The world's population reached 6 billion on October 12, with the symbolic 6 billionth inhabitant born in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• The child's birth was arbitrary, as there are three children born every second, and was determined by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's presence at Kosevo Hospital.
• The world's population has doubled since 1960 and is expected to increase by about 3 billion over the next 50 years.
• Annan will visit the family to officially bestow the honor and meet with local officials to discuss the development of a memorial to U.N. personnel who contributed to peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• The child's parents, Fatima Nevic and Jasminko, are refugees living in their own country, with their dream of rebuilding their home in Ilias, near Sarajevo.
• The child's birth highlights the ongoing struggle of refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with over 1.2 million Bosnians remaining outside the country or displaced within it.

Statistics:

• The world's population reached 6 billion on October 12.
• The global population has doubled since 1960.
• The world's population is expected to increase by about 3 billion over the next 50 years.
• Over 200,000 people died during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• More than 1.2 million Bosnians remain refugees outside the country or displaced within it.
• The child was born after seven hours of labor, weighing 7.7 pounds.

Sources:

• United Press International, "World's 6 Billionth Inhabitant Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina," Copyright 1999 by United Press International.
• British Broadcasting Corp., interview with Dr. Idris Bukvic, chief of pediatrics at Sarajevo's University Clinical Center.