India to remain world's most populous country throughout 21st century

India is set to remain the world's most populous country throughout the 21st century, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 report released on Thursday.

The report forecasts India will peak at approximately 1.7 billion people in the early 2060s, followed by a 12 per cent decline by the century's end.

The UN projections also suggest that the global population will peak around 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s, an increase from 8.2 billion in 2024, before gradually decreasing to 10.2 billion by 2100.

The report highlights a global rise in life expectancy post-Covid-19, with life expectancy at birth reaching 73.3 years in 2024, an 8.4-year increase since 1995, and is expected to average 77.4 years by 2054.

By 2080, individuals aged 65 and above will outnumber those under 18, stressing the importance for countries facing demographic aging to leverage technology for enhanced productivity, support diverse workforces, and create opportunities for continuous learning and extended careers.

The 2024 Revision of the World Population Prospects is the twenty-eighth round of global population estimates and projections produced by the Population Division of the UN since 1951.