NEW DELHI — India is poised to remain the most populous country in the world throughout the 21st century, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 report released recently.

The report anticipates that India will reach its population peak in the early 2060s with approximately 1.7 billion people, followed by a 12% decrease by the end of the century.

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

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

The UN stressed that by 2080, individuals aged 65 and above will surpass those under 18, underscoring 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 organization since 1951. — Agencies