India is all set to overtake China’s world record for the highest population this year. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India has become the most populous country in the world having 2.9 million people more than China.

India surpasses China’s population by 2.9 million

On Wednesday, the UNFPA’s ‘The State of World Population Report, 2023’, titled ‘8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices’ said that India’s population is 1,428.6 million while China’s stood at 1,425.7 million. This results in a huge difference of almost 2.9 million in population.

Reportedly, the latest data were given under the category of ‘Demographic Indicators’ in the report.

Interestingly, it is for the first time in the UN’s history that the Indian population has surpassed China’s since 1950, which is when the global organization started collecting the data.

As per the report, almost 25 per cent of the Indian population is in the age group of 0-14, 18 per cent is in 10-19, 26 per cent in the age group of 10-24, 68 per cent in 15-64, and 7 per cent above 65. Whereas, in China, the figures are 17 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, 69 per cent, and 14 per cent respectively, which states that the country, has approx. 200 million above the age of 65.

Whose life expectancy is greater?

Taking notes from this recent data, it is understood that China has a greater life expectancy than India, the data says women can last up to 82 years and 76 that of men. However, India lacks in the rate, amid the health conditions, and socio-physiological matters; the figures said 74 and 72 respectively.

According to experts, India has greater advantages in the ‘demographic field.’ Highlighting the perks of the young population donating their efforts in the development of the nation, UNFPA’s Indian representative Andrea Wojner said, “Its young population in a consumer-driven economy will be a major factor in driving the country’s development, and presents an enormous opportunity for the country’s economic growth.”

“The country will not just enjoy an abundant supply of labour from this working age cohort, but the rising domestic consumption should help the nation tide over any external shocks, a fact well demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the representative added.

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Fertility rates

Now, here is the main matter of the population war, it’s about the fertility rates. A Chinese demography expert, Huang Wenzheng said that India’s advantage is that it is still growing even as it is slower than before.

According to him, the key is not whether the total population of India has surpassed that of China but India now has more than twice as many new babies as China with a total fertility rate about twice as much as China’s, which means that India’s population will be much bigger than China’s in the long run.

As India has a much bigger demographic strength than China, it has the temperament to strengthen its arms on other fronts as well.

Moreover, India is full of excitement and authenticity, as every state provides unique opportunities to reap demographic dividends. Different states have varieties of demographic transitions.

There is one of the major reasons that the number of births in China did not increase as expected, amid the abolishment of the one-child policy and then gradually allowing even three children. Primary reasons include rising costs of living, childcare, and education.