India’s projected population 139 crore, China's 142 crore: Govt to Lok Sabha

India’s projected population as on July 1, 2023 is 139 crore, less than China’s 142 crore, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai quoted a technical group on population projections published by the National Commission on Population as putting India’s population at 139,23,29,000.

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In contrast, the World Population Prospectus has projected the population of China as on July 1, 2023 at 142,56,71,000, he said in a written reply.

Rai said India could not conduct the once-a-decade 2021 census due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

(With agency inputs)