Approximately 117 billion human beings have existed throughout history—from the first Homo sapiens, about 300,000 years ago, to the present day. 
Scientists arrived at this number by combining data on birth rates, mortality rates, and population growth, taking into account both ancient periods of small populations and the accelerated growth of recent centuries, driven by advances in health, agriculture, and technology.
Currently, about 7% of all humans who have ever existed are still alive, an impressive figure that shows how much the world’s population has expanded in such a short time.
