UN: India overtakes China as world’s most populated country

India surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation, according to the U.N. Despite making up more than a third of the projected 8.045 billion world population, both of the Asian superpowers’ population growth has been declining.

According to the most recent UN statistics, India has beaten out China to become the world’s most populated country, with 142.86 crores inhabitants. As per the UN world population dashboard, China now ranks second in terms of population with 142.57 crores people.

According to a new UNFPA report, 25 % of India’s population is under the age group of 0-14 years, 18 % comes under the age group of 10 to 19, 26 % in the age range of 10 to 24 years, and 68 % under the age group of 15 to 64 years and 7 % above 65 years.

Approximations from various agencies have been recommended that the population of India is anticipated to keep increasing for closely three decades until it mountains at 165 crores and then start deteriorating.

The Indian population demographics differs from state to state. Kerala and Punjab have an elderly population while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have a young population, as per the experts’ report.

Andrea Wojnar, the representative for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India and the country director for Bhutan, said that “India’s 1.4 billion people must be seen as 1.4 billion opportunities. As the country with the largest youth cohort its 254 million youth of 15-24 years can be a source of innovation, new thinking and lasting solutions. The trajectory can leapfrog forward if women and girls, in particular, are equipped with equal educational and skill building opportunities, access to technology and digital innovations, and most importantly with information and power to fully exercise their reproductive rights and choices,” she said.

Wojnar further added that ensuring gender parity, enablement and advancing greater bodily independence for women and girls are the key bases for a defensible future. Individual rights and choices should be appreciated, and all should be aware and able to take decision when to have children, if any, and how many.

“Women and girls should be at the centre of sexual and reproductive policies and programmes. When rights, choices and equal value of all people are truly respected and held, only then can we unlock a future of infinite possibilities,” the UN official added.