India to overtake China in population stakes

India is to become the world’s most populous country with nearly 3 million more people than China by the middle of this year, marking a historic shift for the two Asian neighbours


Jul 1, 2023 
India: 1.429bn 
China: 1.426bn

2050
India: 1.668bn 
China: 1.317bn
 
India 
China*

China’s birth rate has been declining despite country abandoning its one-child policy in 2016

India has much younger population, higher fertility rate, and has seen decrease in infant mortality over decades

*Not including Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan, which Beijing sees
as breakaway province

POPULATION (billions)

1.5
1.0
0.5
0
1950 1975 2000 2025 2050 2075 2100


TOP 10 MOST POPULATED COUNTRIES BY MID-2023 (millions)

India	1,429
China	1,426
U.S. 	340 
Indonesia 277 
Pakistan 240
Nigeria 224 
Brazil 	216 
Bangladesh 173 
Russia 	144 
Mexico 	128

 
Source: UNFPA State of World Population Report 2023 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS