OVER the next 50 years, the world’s poorest nations will triple in size – while its richest will shrink, a new UN study predicts. The world, 6.1bn people strong today, is anticipated to reach 9.3bn by 2050, the UN Population Division estimates. Nine of every 10 people will be living in a developing country, one of six in India alone. Meanwhile, Europe and Japan will see their populations plummet, forcing them to rethink immigration policies and adjust social services to accommodate a shrinking work force and a growing elderly population.