Abstract. Analysis of statistical data of 189 countries showed a remarkable heterogeneity of the level of the Human Development Index (HDI). The article suggests the ways of overcoming the gap between developed and developing countries in terms of the HDI. Approximation of the quality of life of developing countries to the level of developed ones is a necessary condition for delivering humankind from global threats, namely, poverty, local wars, pandemics, mass illegal migration. Under these conditions, it is proposed to consider the possibility of conclusion of an international agreement to regulate population growth. The purpose of the article is to substantiate ways to synchronize the demographic policies of developing and developed countries, to reduce the unreasonably large gap in their HDI level, which contributes to poverty, the threat of pandemics, the capture of the living space of Europe and North America by migrants from poor countries, climate warming. A necessary condition for raising the HDI is population regulation. Compared to the level accumulated over many previous millennia, over the 70 post-war years, the anthropogenic load has tripled – from 2.5 to 7.8 billion people. In Europe, population growth has stopped. In North America, it occurs under the great influence of migration. Population control through fertility is necessary primarily in the African and Asian continents, as well as in Central and South America. The growth of the HDI of developing countries contributes to a reduction of the birth rate and population growth, poverty and, therefore, motives for migration, anthropogenic pressure. The problem of HDI growth due to population regulation is global. Therefore, the article proposes to develop an international agreement on population regulation, like the Paris agreement. As the limits of global population growth reached, the world community will have to move from the focus on GDP growth and profit maximization to the priorities of protecting the environment and human health. In the context of changing growth priorities, GDP as a key indicator of development, may be replaced with an indicator like the HDI.