Fact Check: Is Joe Biden's claim Africa will have the largest population by 2050 true?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: During the memorial service for Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Joe Biden claimed that Africa will be the world's largest continent in terms of population by the year 2050. The claim has sparked criticism and speculation among netizens, with many questioning its authenticity. Let us fact-check the claim.

Claim: Joe Biden says Africa will be the most populous continent by 2050

Former President Biden, during his speech at the memorial service of activist Jesse Jackson, claimed that Africa is going to be the largest continent in terms of population by the year 2025.

"By the way, you know the continent of Africa is going to be the largest continent in the world in terms of population by the year 2050," he said.

The remark drew criticism, with many condemning the factuality of the claim, while others remained sceptical about it.

Fact Check: Joe Biden's claim is incorrect

According to a forecast, Africa's total population would reach nearly 2.5 billion by 2050. 

The United Nations also projected that by 2050, Africa's population will reach close to 2.5 billion. Such a figure would mean that more than 25 percent of the world’s population will be African.

However, Asia would remain the most populous region, although its growth rate will be slower than that of Africa. 

There is no credible data or statistics that support Biden’s claim that Africa will be the world’s largest continent in terms of population by the middle of this century.

A fact check by Grok stated that “Biden did say that (per the video). But the claim is incorrect. UN World Population Prospects 2024: Africa ~2.5B by 2050; Asia still largest at ~5.3B. Africa projected to surpass Asia only later (post-2050).”

Political leaders gather to honor Jesse Jackson's legacy

Biden made the claim during the funeral of Jesse Jackson, which drew a large gathering of political leaders and public figures, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who also attended the service.

JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, told mourners that Jackson’s legacy was deeply tied to the city he called home.

“Reverend Jackson belonged to Chicago and Chicago belonged to him,” Pritzker said. “He was ours, and we were his.”