By John Ikani
India has overtaken China to become the world’s “most populous” nation, according to latest data released by the United Nations (UN).
The new figures show that India’s population has grown to 1.4286 billion people, slightly higher than China’s 1.4257 billion.
However, China’s numbers did not include Hong Kong and Macau, special administrative regions of China, and Taiwan.
The latest estimates by the UN’s World Population dashboard indicate that most of India’s population is below 30 years old.
As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, the country’s increasing population adds urgency for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to create employment opportunities for millions of people entering the workforce, especially as the nation shifts away from farm jobs.
India’s population growth has outpaced China’s since 1974.
The country, which is Asia’s third-largest economy, is now home to nearly a fifth of humanity.
This is greater than the entire population of Europe, Africa, or the Americas.
According to Andrea Wojnar, representative of the United Nations Population Fund, “India’s story is a powerful one of progress in education, public health, and sanitation, economic development, and technological advancements.”
India took the top spot in population growth after adding about 23 million babies in 2022, while China’s population began shrinking for the first time in six decades, with approximately 9.56 million newborns last year.
This trend highlights India’s growing importance in the global economy and raises questions about the potential challenges that lie ahead for the country, such as addressing the infrastructure and employment needs of a rapidly growing population.
