India’s population to peak in 2062: UN Population report 2024

India's population to peak in second half of 21st century

India, which pipped China to become the most populated country in 2023, is likely to witness its population peak in 2062 at 1.701 billion, according to United Nations World Population Prospects report released on Thursday.

The global organisation noted that countries with demographic dividend need to move faster to capitalise on the opportunity.

“In about 100 countries or areas, the working-age population (between 20 and 64 years) will grow through 2054, offering a window of opportunity known as the demographic dividend. To capitalise on this opportunity, countries must invest in education, health, and infrastructure, and implement reforms to create jobs and improve government efficiency,”  it noted.

The global population is expected to peak around mid-2080s with 10.3 billion compared with 8.2 billion in 2024.

“The size of the world’s population in 2100 is now expected to be six percent lower—or 700 million fewer—than anticipated a decade ago,” UN said.

“By the late 2070s, the global population aged 65 and older is projected to reach 2.2 billion, exceeding the number of children under 18,” it further added.

According to the report, one in four people live in a country whose population has peaked.

While 63 countries witnessed their population peak until 2024, another 48 are likely to witness the peaks between now and 2054.

“In the remaining 126 countries, including India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States of America, the population is expected to increase through 2054 and, potentially, to peak in the second half of the century or later,” it said.

The report highlighted that global life expectancy was on the rise again in 2024, reaching 73.3 years, after it declined to 70.9 years during the pandemic.