India to become most populous country, but with big demographic advantage
India will have the world’s highest population by the middle of the year, says a UN report, but given its large working-age population, if policies are framed correctly, the large population can provide enormous opportunities for the country’s economic growth.
By the middle of this year, India will have the highest population in the world, overtaking China, which has long held the position, according to the 2023 edition of ‘The State of World Population Report’, which is titled ‘8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices’, released today by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) (formerly called formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA)).
The report says that India will have 2.9 million (29 lakh) more people by that time—1,428.6 million (142.86 crore), as against China’s 1,425.7 million (142.57 crore), the latter having held the first position since 1950, when the United Nations (UN) began collecting and releasing population data.
The highest percentage, that is, 68 per cent, belongs to the 15-64 age group, said the report, followed by 26 per cent in the age group of 10-24, 25 per cent in 0-14, 18 per cent in 10-19 and 7 per cent in above 65.
Importantly, Anna Jefferys, the UN agency’s media and crisis communications advisor, said it’s is important how India and China can support their populations.
India has a clear demographic advantage—in the above 65 age group, while China has about 200 million (199.59 million) people, India has half that number.
Andrea Wojner, UNPF/UNFPA’s India representative said the country’s “young population in a consumer-driven economy will be a major factor in driving the country’s development [through an abundant supply of labour] and presents an enormous opportunity for the country’s economic growth [through rising domestic consumption]”.
She also said that India’s demographic diversity—different states are at different stages of demographic transition—provides unique opportunities: “For example, an ageing population in southern India can meet its labour demands from the greater proportion of the youthful population in the northern and eastern parts of the country through conducive policies on inter-state migration.”
