India to become most populous country in 2023
If you are an Indian, you would know that the country is the second most populous in the world, right behind China. However, recently, on the occasion of World Population Day, United Nations released the 'World Population Prospects 2022' report that revealed that India is all set to become the most populous nation by 2023, surpassing China. The report also announced that the world reached the mark of 8 billion people on 15th November 2022.
Taking this into account, the United Nations has also declared 2022 as a ‘milestone year’ as it saw the birth of Earth’s 8 billionth inhabitant. Interestingly, since 1950, the global population has been growing slowly and its rate even dropped by an unexpected 1 per cent in 2020.
Furthermore, according to estimates, the United Nations has ascertained that the global population will reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. It has also been predicted that it will reach the peak around 2080s, with a whooping 10.4 billion people, which will stay so until 2100.
In case you are wondering if the World Population Prospects 2022 contained any more important pieces of information, it certainly did. For instance, it states that the fertility rate has reduced significantly in the last decade in many countries. In fact, two-thirds of the current world population resides in places where the overall fertility rate is under 2.1 births per woman. Do you know what this implies? There will be practically zero growth in these regions in the near future, and the existing population will in turn have low mortality. As a result of this, population in 61 countries is estimated to fall by more than 1 per cent in between 2022 and 2050, owing to such decreased level of fertility as well as high rate of emigration in certain instances.
In contrast, the projected rise in the global population till 2050 will primarily be concentrated in eight nations namely: Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Moreover, sub-Saharan countries are also expected to contribute to nearly half of this rise in population. However, this increase in population will affect sustainable development in these areas and even lead to poverty, rise in hunger and malnutrition, gender inequality and expensive health and education systems – things that have left the UN worried.
Fortunately, the working population (aged 25 to 64) has also seen a growth, thanks to a drop in the fertility rates. Additionally, this wide age distribution has accelerated economic growth per capita, something which is termed as “demographic dividend.” This can further be enhanced by ensuring proper access to quality education, healthcare, skill development and productive job opportunities.
Similarly, the ageing population is also on the verge of rise from 10 per cent in 2022 to 16 per cent in 2050. According to the UN, the countries with more concentration of senior citizens should take proactive measures to take care of such individuals. These should include better and long-term health facilities, improved social security and pension systems.
Besides, global life expectancy at birth is expected to reach 75 years by 2050, with an average global longevity of 77.2 years by 2050. All these would need international collaboration among governments and other organisations at stake.
The goal is to celebrate diversity, recognise common humanity and remain aware about our shared responsibility to care for our planet.