Report-on world population trends

What is this study?

A study was conducted by researchers at University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) which analysed population trends in 195 countries. It used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 to model future population in various scenarios as a function of fertility, migration, and mortality rates.

Q. What are some important findings of report?

A. According to this study:

• World population will peak in 2064, at 9.73 billion which is 36 years earlier than the 11 billion peak projected for 2100 by last year’s World Population Prospects report published by Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) 
• For 2100, the report projects a decline to 8.79 billion from the 2064 peak.
• Global total fertility rate (TFR) is predicted to steadily decline from 2.37 in 2017 to 1.66 in 2100. It is projected to fall below 2.1 in 183 countries.
• In 23 countries including Japan, Thailand, Italy and Spain, it is projected to shrink by more than 50%.
• For a generation to exactly replace itself, the replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) is taken to be 2.1.

Q. What is TFR?

A. Total fertility rate (TFR) in simple terms refers to total number of children born or likely to be born to a woman in her life time if she were subject to the prevailing rate of age-specific fertility in the population. TFR of about 2.1 children per woman is called Replacement-level fertility (UN, Population Division).

Q. What are India related findings of report?

• It projects a peak population of 1.6 billion in 2048, up from 1.38 billion in 2017.
• By 2100, the population is projected to decline by 32% to 1.09 billion.
• India’s TFR is already below 2.1 in 2019. It will reach 1.29 in 2100.
• The number of working-age adults (20–64 years) in India is projected to fall from around 748 million in 2017 to around 578 million in 2100. However, this will be the largest working-age population in the world by 2100.
• In the mid-2020s, India is expected to surpass China’s workforce population (950 million in 2017, and 357 million in 2100).
• From 2017 to 2100, India is projected to rise up the list of countries with the largest GDP, from 7th to 3rd.
• India is projected to have the second largest net immigration in 2100, with an estimated half a million more people immigrating to India in 2100 than emigrating out.
• Among the 10 countries with the largest populations in 2017 or 2100, India is projected to have one of the lowest life expectancies (79.3 years in 2100, up from 69.1 in 2017).

Q. What are challenges ahead according to this study?

A. Forecasts highlight huge challenges to the economic growth of a shrinking workforce, the high burden on health and social support systems of an ageing population.

It forecasts continued trends in female educational attainment and access to contraception will hasten declines in fertility and slow population growth.

Q. What needs to be done?

A .Countries should address the potential catastrophic impact of a shrinking working age population. Suggested Measures include: such as incentives to increase TFR, and using artificial intelligence as a path towards self-sufficiency. Wealthy countries such as the UK and the USA could counteract the impact of these changes through net migration of working-age adults from the countries with growing populations. The effect of fertility decline on women’s reproductive health rights has to be accompanied by greater economic independence.