India will overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the end of this week, the United Nations has said.
India's population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people by the end of April, the new data shows.
A different UN body last week predicted that India would overtake China by the middle of this year.
The Asian nations have accounted for more than a third of the global population for over 70 years.
"China will soon cede its long-held status as the world's most populous country," the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) said in a statement.
It added that "due to the uncertainty associated with estimating and projecting populations, the specific date on which India is expected to surpass China in population size is approximate and subject to revision".
The UN Population Fund said last week India would have 2.9 million more people than China by the middle of 2023.
- What it will mean when Indians outnumber Chinese
- Should China worry about its shrinking population?
- What will China's population drop mean for the world?
China's birth rate has plunged recently, with its population shrinking last year for the first time since 1961.
China's population could drop below 1 billion before the end of the century, DESA said.
"By contrast, India's population is expected to continue growing for several decades," it added.
However, fertility rates are dropping in India, too - from 5.7 births per woman in 1950 to 2.2 births per woman today.
In November, the global population crossed 8 billion. But experts the growth is not as rapid as it was - and is now at its slowest rate since 1950.
Latest Stories
-
Adjetey Anang suggests actors can fight ‘galamsey’ better through stories than protests
25 mins -
The 8 is with me, let NPP break it if they can – Mahama on position on ballot paper
34 mins -
Keta Port CEO not drawing unearned salary; he’s also Tema Ship Yard CEO – NEIP CEO to Joyce Bawah
42 mins -
GPRTU partners CorpNation Foundation to tackle plastic waste at lorry stations
48 mins -
RYTHM foundation: QNET’S CSR arm targets equity and equality for people with disabilities in Ghana in 3-year project with Anopa
53 mins -
Democracy Hub protest: Tampering with key to a police van is criminal – Antwi-Danso
55 mins -
QNET meets West African journalists in Malaysia to explain business model and stakeholder relations efforts
56 mins -
POJOBA ’84 year group clears bills of detained patients at E/R Hospital
1 hour -
WASSCE invigilators fined, others remanded- WAEC
1 hour -
BoG launches gold coins as new investment option
1 hour -
VRA alarmed over IPPs’ demand for increased payments under Cash Waterfall Mechanism
2 hours -
Economic activity pickup, consumer confidence improves – BoG
2 hours -
Audit is not evil, It builds integrity! Embrace it to ensure transparent elections!
2 hours -
NPL ratio of banks increased to 24.3% in August 2024
2 hours -
Free SHS has brought immense relief to us and our children – Denkyira Traditional Council
2 hours