India to overtake China as the world’s most populous country by mid-2023, U.N. says (2024)

India is on its way to become the world’s most populous country, overtaking China with almost 3 million more people in the middle of this year, data released on Wednesday by the United Nations showed.

The demographic data from the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) “State of World Population Report, 2023” estimates India’s population at 1,428.6 million or 1.4286 billion against 1.4257 billion for China.

The United States is a distant third, with an estimated population of 340 million, the data showed. The data reflects information available as of Feb. 2023, the report said.

Population experts using previous data from the U.N. have projected India would go past China this month. But the latest report from the global body did not specify a date for when the change would take place.

U.N. population officials have said it was not possible to specify a date due to “uncertainty” about the data coming out of India and China, especially since India’s last census was conducted in 2011 and the next one due in 2021 has beendelayeddue to the pandemic.

Although India and China will account for more than one-third of the estimated global population of 8.045 billion, the population growth in both Asian giants has been slowing, at a much faster pace in China than in India.

Last year, China’spopulationfell for the first time in six decades, a historic turn that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline in its citizen numbers with profound implications for its economy and the world.

India’s annual population growth has averaged 1.2% since 2011, compared with 1.7% in the 10 years previously, according to government data.

“The Indian survey findings suggest that population anxieties have seeped into large portions of the general public,” Andrea Wojnar, Representative for UNFPA India, said in a statement.

“Yet, population numbers should not trigger anxiety or create alarm. Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld,” she said.

Reuters

India to overtake China as the world’s most populous country by mid-2023, U.N. says (2024)

FAQs

India to overtake China as the world’s most populous country by mid-2023, U.N. says? ›

24 April 2023 - China will soon cede its long-held status as the world's most populous country. By the end of this month, India's population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people, matching and then surpassing the population of mainland China.

Will India overtake China? ›

In Bloomberg Economics's base case scenario, India's economy will accelerate to 9% by the end of the decade, while China slows to 3.5%. That puts India on course to overtake China as the world's biggest growth driver by 2028.

Has India surpassed China to become the most populous country in the world? ›

India now world's most populous country with 142.86 crore people. China has a population of 142.57 crore. India becomes most populous country in the world. According tot he United Nations data, India has surpassed China to become world's most populous nation with 142.86 crore people.

Does China or India have a bigger population in 2024? ›

Twenty countries with the largest population in 2024 (in millions)
CharacteristicAsiaAmericas
India1,435.23-
China1,425.49-
United States-340.91
Indonesia278.68-
9 more rows
Mar 15, 2024

Why isn't India a superpower? ›

Lack of international representation. India is not a permanent member of the UNSC, although currently, it is one of the four-nations group actively seeking a permanent seat in the council. Thus India lacks the ability to extend its influence or ideas on international events in the way superpowers do.

Is India's military stronger than China? ›

India has been ranked as the fourth strongest military in the world, just after China, according to the Global Firepower Index, a platform that analyses data based on factors that determine a nation's war-fighting capability.

What is India the most populated country after in the world? ›

China is most populous country in the world with population of 138.64 crores. India is second populous country in the world after china with population of 133.92 crores.
  • Q1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence: ...
  • Q2. ...
  • Q3. ...
  • Q4. ...
  • Q5.

Will India become the most populated country? ›

In April 2023, India's population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people, matching and then surpassing the population of mainland China (figure 1). India's population is virtually certain to continue to grow for several decades.

Where does India rank in population next to China in the world? ›

India has the second-largest population in the world, after China.

Which country is most powerful in the world? ›

United States. The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.

Which state has the largest population in India? ›

Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India. The other two most populated states in India are Maharashtra and Bihar. This article will throw more light on the most populous states of India.

What is the smallest country in the world? ›

Vatican City holds the title as the world's smallest country, with an area of just 0.17 square mile (0.44 square km). As a point of comparison, the largest country in the world, Russia, is almost 39 million times bigger.

Will India overtake China's economy? ›

To overtake China as the biggest contributor to global growth in the next five years, India must achieve a sustained growth rate of 8%, Barclays analysts wrote in an October report. The IMF projects that India will expand at 6.3% this year.

Is India older than China? ›

Armenia - 2492 BCE. North Korea - 2333 BCE. China - 2070 BCE. India - 2000 BCE.

How many Indians live in China? ›

Population of Overseas Indians
Sl.No.CountryNon-Resident Indians (NRIs)
39Central African Republic100
40Chad120
41Chile1530
42China55500
91 more rows
Oct 5, 2023

Is India capable of defeating China? ›

If India and China were to fight a war in the near future, India faces the prospect of losing the war within ten days. China could take Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh with a minimum loss of life, and there is very little that India could do about it, says military expert and best-selling author Pravin Sawhney.

Will India or China be the next superpower? ›

Investment Conclusion

A growing population, rising domestic consumption due to an improving middle class, significant infrastructure spending, a digital transformation, and increasing exports have transformed India into a growth story that many investors believe could be the next China.

Is India going to overtake US? ›

India on track to surpass US as second-largest economy by 2040: Report.

Which country will be the next superpower? ›

The People's Republic of China has arguably received the most consistent coverage in the popular press of its potential superpower status, and has been identified as a rising or emerging economic and military superpower by academics and other experts with one summarising that "China certainly presents the most ...

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