The UN children's Fund (Unicef) have said an estimated 371,504 babies were expected to be born around the world on the first day of 2021.
"The children born today enter a world far different than even a year ago, and a New Year brings a new opportunity to reimagine it," said Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore in a press release issued on Thursday.
"Children born today will inherit the world we begin to build for them -- today. Let us make 2021 the year we start to build a fairer, safer, healthier world for children," said the Unicef executive director.
As 2021 begins, Unicef is again celebrating the new lives being brought into the world. "Fiji in the Pacific will welcome 2021's first baby while the United States will welcome its last," said the release.
Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China (35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336), Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455), Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640).
In total, an estimated 140 million children will be born in 2021. Their average life expectancy is 84 years, added the press release.
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