India Surpasses China as World’s Most Populous Country

India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country, according to the United Nations.

The Indian population rose to 1.428 billion, 3 million more than the 1.425 billion in China, according to data from the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) “State of World Population Report, 2023” on April 19.

India and China will now account for more than one-third of the estimated global population of 8.045 billion.

The demographic data reflects information available as of February 2023, the UN report said.

India, which also has the third-largest economy in Asia, will be home to nearly 20 percent of humanity, greater than the entire population of Europe, Africa, or the Americas.

The United States will remain the third most populous nation, with an estimated population of 340 million.

China’s Population Ages Out

China is expected by economists and demographers to have one of the world’s oldest populations, sometime in the 21st Century.

UN officials have said that it was not possible to specify a timeframe because of “uncertainty” about the data coming from both countries and due to the fact that India’s last countrywide census was conducted in 2011.

The planned census for 2021 was delayed due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, population growth in both Asian states has been slowing, but at a much faster pace in China than in India.

China’s population fell for the first time in six decades in 2022, a major turn of events that will gradually see the numbers of citizens shrink and age over the next couple of decades.

This will have strategic implications for Chinese economy and the globe, as the world’s second-largest economy loses much of its productive workforce.

In contrast, the Indian population, where half the population is under the age of 30, will be the world’s fastest-growing major economy by mid-century.

India on Path to Economic Superpower Status

India’s population growth has slowed to an average 1.2 percent a year since 2011, compared with 1.7 percent in the previous decade, according to data from New Delhi.

Despite the slowdown in growth, the Indian population is forecast to reach 1.668 billion by 2050, while China’s population is expected to decline to about 1.317 billion.

The quickly growing population is expected to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create jobs for the millions of people entering the workforce, as the country increasingly moves towards an urbanized industrial economy.

“The Indian survey findings suggest that population anxieties have seeped into large portions of the general public,” said Andrea Wojnar, representative for UNFPA India, in a statement.

“Yet, population numbers should not trigger anxiety or create alarm. Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld,” she said.

Reuters contributed to this report.