India will surpass China as the most populous country by 2023. U.N. report says

NEW DELHI, July 11 New Delhi, July 11, India will overtake China in the rankings of world's largest nation by 2023, each country having over 1.4 billion people this year in 2023, an United Nations report said on Monday, warning that the country's high fertility could hinder growth in the economy.

The global population, projected to rise to 8 billion by November. 15, this year could increase to 8.5 billion by 2030 and 10.4 billion by the year 2100 as the rate of death is slowed, according to the report that was released this week on World Population Day.

The population of India was 1.21 billion according to the census in India which is conducted every once every 10 years. The government has delayed the 2021 census due the COVID-19 epidemic.

The world's population grew at a slower rate since 1950, before falling below 1% by the year the year 2020. UN estimations showed.

The 2021 fertility of the population was 2.3 babies per female in the course of her life, down from around 5 births in 1950. Global fertility is predicted to decrease further, to 2.1 women born in 2050.

"This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

However, the growing number of people brought to mind our shared responsibility for caring for the environment and "reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another," he added.

In reference on an previous World Health Organisation report- that estimated about 14.9 million deaths related to the COVID-19 virus between January 2020 to December 2021, the UN report noted that life expectancy dropped to 71 years by 2021, down from 72.8 years in the year prior, most likely because of the disease.

The United Nations said more than 50% of the projected growth in global population 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries namely Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and in the Philippines along with in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Sub-Saharan African countries are predicted to contribute more than 50% of the growth forecast until 2050.

However, the number of 61 countries is predicted to fall by 1percent or more between 2022-2050, caused by a decrease in fertility.