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India population to surpass China by mid-2023 - UN India population to surpass China by mid-2023 - UN
(32 minutes later)
India is set to overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the middle of this year, data released by the United Nations shows.India is set to overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the middle of this year, data released by the United Nations shows.
India's population is pegged to reach 1,428.6 million against China's 1,425.7 million. India's population is expected to reach 1.4286 billion - 2.9 million more than its neighbour on 1.4257 billion.
This shows India will have 2.9 million more people than its Asian neighbour. The Asian nations have accounted for more than a third of the global population for over 70 years.
The Asian nations have more than 1.4 billion people each, and have accounted for more than a third of the global population for over 70 years. China's birth rate has plunged recently with its population shrinking last year for the first time since 1961.
India's population number, however, is an estimate since there has been no Census in the country after 2011. India's population forecast provided in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population report is an estimate since there has been no census in the country since 2011.
Also, the UN says their estimate does not include the population of China's two Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong and Macau - and the island of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland one day. But Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders. Also, the UN says their estimate does not include the population of China's two Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong and Macau - or the island of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland one day. Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.
In November, the global population crossed 8bn. But experts say growth is not as rapid as it used to be and is now at its slowest rate since 1950. In November, the global population crossed 8 billion. But experts say growth is not as rapid as it used to be and is now at its slowest rate since 1950.
Both India and China have seen declines in their fertility rates. This means in China, the population will start declining next year, despite the country abandoning its one-child policy in 2016 and introducing incentives for couples to have two or more children.Both India and China have seen declines in their fertility rates. This means in China, the population will start declining next year, despite the country abandoning its one-child policy in 2016 and introducing incentives for couples to have two or more children.
In India too, fertility rates have fallen substantially in recent decades from 5.7 births per woman in 1950 to 2.2 births per woman today. Soaring living costs and the growing number of women joining the workforce are among other factors being blamed for the slowdown in China.
A survey commissioned by the UNFPA had a majority of Indians saying that the population in their country was too large and fertility rates too high. Almost two in three respondents identified economic issues as top concerns when thinking about population growth. What it will mean when Indians outnumber Chinese
Demographers, however, say Indian population overtaking China's shouldn't be seen as a matter of concern and caution against giving into anxieties over the rising numbers. Should China worry about its shrinking population?
What will China's population drop mean for the world?
In India, too, fertility rates have fallen substantially in recent decades from 5.7 births per woman in 1950 to 2.2 births per woman today.
A survey commissioned by the UNFPA had a majority of Indians saying their population was too large and fertility rates too high. Almost two in three respondents identified economic issues as top concerns when thinking about population growth.
Demographers, however, say India's population overtaking China's shouldn't be seen as a matter of concern and caution against giving into anxieties over the rising numbers.
"Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld," the UN report says."Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld," the UN report says.
BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.
Watch: How the world got to 8 billion - and where next
Watch: How the world got to 8 billion - and where next
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