India has overtaken China as the world’s most populous country. Although India has not had a census since 2011, according to the 2023 United Nations statistics, the population difference between the two countries is about 2 million. India’s population is 142 crore (86 lakhs). On the other hand, the population of China is 142.57 million. However, a UN population survey released on Thursday claims that India will have the largest population in 2060—1.7 billion. After that, India’s population will decrease by 12 percent. At the end of the 21st century, India is predicted to be the most populous country in the world, even though the population will decrease a lot, according to this report from the United Nations.
According to the report named ‘World Population Prospects 2024’ of the United Nations, India remains the most populous country in the world despite the decrease in population. According to a United Nations report, India’s potential population could reach 145 million by the end of 2024. China’s population is 141 million. In 2060, India’s population may reach the top of the world. The population may be 170 crore. However, the United Nations report predicts that China’s population may be close to 1.2 billion during this period.
According to the United Nations report, India’s population in 2100 may be 1.5 billion. China’s population may drop to 630 million. India and China may be followed by America in terms of population. From that point of view, India remains the most populous country in the world even at the end of the 21st century, even though the population has decreased.
This report was published on behalf of the United Nations by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). “China’s population could drop by more than 200 million between 2024 and 2054 due to its larger geographical area and declining birth rate,” said Claire Mennotzi, one of the population officials at Desa, in response to questions from news agency PTI. During this period, the population of Japan may decrease by 2 crore and that of Russia by 1 crore.
China, long the world’s most populous country, continues to see its population decline after it emphasizes the ‘one child policy’. For the first time in six decades, China’s population growth rate has not only stagnated but is also slowing down abnormally. Data shows that population growth has stalled in India as well. Since 2011, the country’s population growth rate has stagnated at 1.02 percent, compared to 1.07 percent earlier. Due to this, the population will decrease in this country after 2060. China has been pushing the ‘one child policy’ for several years to curb population decline. Instead, citizens are encouraged to have more than one child.