A United Nations (UN) report released on Monday has projected that India’s population will surpass that of China’s by 2023.
The report noted that the world’s most populous regions this year were both in Asia—Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 2.3 billion people (29% of the global population) and Central and Southern Asia with 2.1 billion (26% of the world population). China and India, both of whose populations exceed 1.4 billion, accounted for the majority of the population in the two regions.
Furthermore, the report said that “more than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries.” These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania.
Achieving equality is not about counting people but making sure people count.
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According to India’s last national census, which was conducted in 2011, the country’s population was 1.21 billion. The Modi government deferred the 2021 census due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, which was released on World Population Day, the global population is estimated to touch 8 billion by November 15 this year. The report further predicted that it could further grow to 8.5 billion by 2030 and 10.4 billion by 2100 as the mortality rate declines and life expectancy rises.
This year, the global population is expected to reach 8 billion.
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The report also highlighted that 46 least developed countries (LDCs) were among the world’s fastest-growing nations, whose populations are expected to double between 2022 and 2050. This will put “additional pressure on resources” and be a challenge “to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the report noted.
The report further noted that “life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019, an increase of almost 9 years since 1990” and projected that “reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.2 years globally in 2050.”
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Acknowledging the milestone, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted in a press release that “This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant.” “This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates,” he said. At the same time, Guterres added that while “reaching a global population of eight billion is a numerical landmark,” the “focus must always be on people.” “In the world we strive to build, 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities to live dignified and fulfilled lives,” the secretary-general remarked.
Against the backdrop of added pressure on the plant and its resources, Guterres added that the growing figure was “a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another.”