New Delhi (India), 19th April 2023: India has surpassed China to become the most populous country in the world, according to the latest data from the United Nations Population Fund.
The agency’s “State of World Population Report, 2023,” titled “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices,” revealed that India’s population now stands at 1,428.6 million, compared to China’s 1,425.7 million, a difference of 2.9 million.
This is the first time since 1950 that India’s population has overtaken China’s. The figures were given under the “demographic indicators” category in the report.
Experts have noted that India’s young population in a consumer-driven economy will be a major factor in driving the country’s development and present an enormous opportunity for economic growth. India’s demographic diversity among states also provides unique opportunities to reap the benefits of demographic dividends. However, China is still doing better than India in terms of life expectancy.
The UNFPA report called for a “radical rethink” of how population numbers are framed. It urged politicians and the media to abandon overblown narratives about population booms and busts. Instead, leaders should focus on whether individuals, especially women, are able to freely make their own reproductive choices.
“Women’s bodies should not be held captive to population targets,” said UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem. To build thriving and inclusive societies regardless of population size, a radical rethink is required in how we talk about and plan for population change, the report said.
