World Population Review, an independent international census and demographic organisation, reported that India’s population rose to 1.417 billion people by the end of 2022, overtaking China to become the world’s most populated country.
According to the report, this is only five million more than the population of China, whose National Bureau of Statistics reported its population as 1.412 billion people after dropping by 850,000 in 2022.
Previously, the UN released a report projecting that India’s population will surpass China’s by 2023. The report also said that between 2022 to 2050, over half the world’s population will be housed in eight countries — India, Pakistan, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Tanzania.
Due to the pandemic, India had to postpone the publication of its regular census, which is conducted every ten years and was scheduled for 2021.
This year, the global population is expected to reach 8 billion.
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Nevertheless, India’s population growth rate has declined to 1.2% since 2011. This is a significant drop from the average of 1.7% in the decade leading up to 2011.
India’s population is expected to hit 1.7 billion before finally starting to drop 60 years from now.
Experts highlight that the reports on India’s population are not entirely alarming, considering over 57% of its population will be in the working-age population by the mid-2030s.
However, India’s ability to use its surging working-age population to further economic growth will depend on its ability to create jobs and address the issue of unemployment in the country.
Read more: An Indian Two-Child Policy: Coercive or Necessary?
China’s Population Drops
On Tuesday, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that China’s population is declining for the first time since 1961.
China’s population drop has occurred despite its decision to abandon reliance on the four-decade-old one-child policy in 2021. Before withdrawing the policy, it used repressive and restrictive measures to contain population growth by depriving families with more than one child of several benefits.
However, Beijing is seeking to reverse the impact of its one-child policy, given that the country now faces the threat of an increasingly ageing population that will be unable to contribute to the workforce. The working population is expected to drop under 50% by 2045, impacting the country’s tax collections and economic growth.
In this regard, the Chinese Health Commission in August 2022 urged the government to increase funds for reproductive health and childcare. In addition, the council recommended allowing workers with children to have flexible hours and work from home.