India is on track to become the most populous country in the world, surpassing China with nearly 3 million more inhabitants by the middle of this year, data released on Wednesday (19) by the United Nations showed.
Demographic data from the “State of World Population Report 2023” by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates India’s population at 1,428.6 million or 1.4286 billion, versus 1.4257 billion from China.
The United States is a distant third with an estimated population of 340 million, the data showed, which reflects information available in February 2023, according to the report.
Population experts, using past UN data, projected that India would overtake China this month. But the global body’s latest report did not specify a date for when the change would take place.
UN officials said it was not possible to specify a date due to “uncertainty” about data coming from India and China, especially as India’s last census was taken in 2011 and the next one scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the pandemic.
Although India and China make up more than a third of the estimated global population of 8.045 billion, population growth in both Asian giants is slowing down, at a much faster pace in China than in India.
Last year, China’s population fell for the first time in six decades, a historic turning point that is expected to mark the beginning of a long period of decline in the number of citizens with profound implications for its economy and the world.
India’s annual population growth has averaged 1.2% since 2011, compared with 1.7% in the previous 10 years, according to government data.
“The results of the Indian survey suggest that public anxieties have filtered down to large portions of the general public,” said Andrea Wojnar, UNFPA India representative, in a statement.
“However, the 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 respected,” she said.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
