India to become world's most populous country in mid-2023, U.N. says

Throngs of people wait on a train platform in India.
(Image credit: PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)

India will surpass China as the world's most populous country by mid-2023, according to new data released by the United Nations on Wednesday.

The data, published in the U.N.'s 'State of World Population Report,' predicts that India's population will reach 1.4286 billion sometime this year, 2.9 million more people than China's estimated population of 1.4257 billion.

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.