India’s population growth slows

AS the global population reaches 8 billion, India, formerly a powerful driver of the number of people on the planet, is experiencing a marked slowdown.

Falling fertility rates in the South Asian country have forced at least one state to consider reviewing policies that encouraged families not to go beyond having two children.

The world’s population is estimated by the United Nations to have hit 8 billion on Nov. 15, with China and India accounting for more than a third of the total. India estimates its population at 1.38 billion, slightly lower than the 1.4 billion that the World Bank estimates for China.

India will become the most populous country in 2023, according to the UN.

But India’s annual population growth has averaged 1.2 percet since 2011, compared with 1.7 percent in the 10 years previously, government figures show.

Further slowing can be expected. India’s total fertility rate (TFR) children per woman - fell to 2 in the latest assessment period, for 20192021, from 3.4 in 1992-93, according to a government report.