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The United Nations Population Fund has recently released its highly anticipated report, the State of World Population 2023.
This comprehensive analysis of global population trends sheds light on various aspects and provides insights into India’s imminent rise as the world’s most populous country, surpassing China by mid-2023.
Key Takeaways from the Report
Total World Population
According to the UNFPA report, the global population has reached a staggering 8,045 million individuals. The largest segment, constituting 65% of the population, falls within the age range of 15 to 64 years.
The age group of 10 to 24 years closely follows, accounting for 24% of the total population. Additionally, the report indicates that 10% of the global population is aged 65 years and above.
The average life expectancy for men now stands at 71 years, while women have an average life expectancy of 76 years.
Population Growth Rate
The latest UNFPA report highlights that although the global population will continue to grow for several decades, projections indicate a decline in the rate of growth, which has remained below 1% since 2020.
Among the countries experiencing substantial population growth, the United States stands as the third most populous nation, with a population of 340 million.
The research underlines that eight nations—the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the United Republic of Tanzania—will account for more than half of the anticipated worldwide population growth until the year 2050.
South Asia exhibits some of the highest emigration trends, as highlighted in the report, with India witnessing an estimated net outflow of 3.5 million migrants between 2010 and 2021. Similarly, Pakistan experienced the highest net inflow of migrants, estimated at 16.5 million during the same period.
India’s Population Scenario
India has now become the most populous country in the world, surpassing China, with a population of 1,428.6 million, as per the UN report. An astounding 68% of India’s population falls within the 15-64 years age group, making it one of the youngest nations globally.
The National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) revealed that India achieved a TFR of 2.0, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. This marks a decline from the TFR of 2.2 reported in the NFHS 4 (2015-16).
In terms of life expectancy, men in India have an average life expectancy of 71 years, aligning with the global average. However, women in India have a slightly lower average life expectancy of 74 years.
The female labour force participation rate in India stood at 19% in 2021, which is lower than the global average of 25.1%. Moreover, this rate has been declining over a prolonged period.
The Prime Minister of India has set an ambitious target of achieving a 50% female workforce by 2047, aiming to address this disparity and encourage greater participation of women in the labour force.
About UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund operates as a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly, focusing on sexual and reproductive health matters.
Established under the mandate of the UN Economic and Social Council, UNFPA has been actively working towards addressing the Sustainable Development Goals related to health (SDG3), education (SDG4), and gender equality (SDG5).
An annual event associated with UNFPA is World Population Day, observed on July 11 each year.
Unlike being supported by the UN budget, UNFPA relies solely on voluntary contributions provided by donor governments, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, foundations, and individuals.
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