♦ The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) report on 10 June 2025.

♦ According to this, India's population is estimated to reach 1.46 billion in 2025, continuing to be the highest in the world.

♦ This is also revealed the country's total fertility rate has fallen below the replacement rate.

♦ The report found that India's total fertility rate has declined to 1.9 births per woman, falling below the replacement level of 2.1.

♦ Despite the slowing birth rate, India's youth population remains significant, with 24 per cent in the age bracket of 0-14, 17 per cent in 10-19, and 26 per cent in 10-24.

♦ The country's 68 per cent of the population is of working age (15-64), providing a potential demographic dividend, if matched by adequate employment and policy support.

♦ The elderly population (65 and older) currently stands at seven percent, a figure that is expected to rise in the coming decades as life expectancy improves.

♦ As of 2025, life expectancy at birth is projected to be 71 years for men and 74 years for women.

♦ China with 1.41 billion population is the second most populous country after India.