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India Overtakes China as World's Most Populous Nation

1/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In 2023, India surpassed China as the world's most populous nation.
China's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 in 2025, and 323 million people are over 60, signaling an aging, shrinking working-age population.
The government has enacted policies to encourage births, including cash subsidies and taxing condoms, but births dropped by 1.62 million from the previous year, raising questions about policy effectiveness.

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Story summary

In 2023, India surpassed China as the world's most populous nation.
China's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 in 2025, and 323 million people are over 60, signaling an aging, shrinking working-age population.
The government has enacted policies to encourage births, including cash subsidies and taxing condoms, but births dropped by 1.62 million from the previous year, raising questions about policy effectiveness.