A case of people versus population

Sub: Geo

Sec: Human geo

World Population Day:

July 11 has been observed as World Population Day since 1989 after the global population crossed the five billion mark.
The population is now estimated to be 8.1 billion, with India as the most populous nation (1.44 billion), slightly more than China’s.

Changes in India:

The population has grown 44% from 100 crore to 144 crore, but the annual growth rate of the population has fallen sharply from nearly 2% to below 1%.
The total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen from 3.4 to 2, just below the “replacement level” of 2.1.
The per capita GDP of Indians grew six times, from $400 to $2,400, and the average lifespan of an Indian increased from 61 years to 70 years.
India faces a demographic shift towards an ageing population, with 19.5% of the population projected to be 60 years or older by 2050.
The reduction in fertility signifies a transition toward smaller family norms, potentially leading to a demographic dividend. However, urban migration and gender inequality pose challenges.
Indians living below the multi-dimensional poverty line decreased from 43% to 11%, although 16 crore people still remain below the poverty line, predominantly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.

Impact of Climate Change:

Climate change poses a significant threat to India, with the debate on historical vs. current emissions closely linked to the population vs. people dichotomy.
OECD countries, with a per capita income of $40,000 and a population of 1.39 billion, produce and consume $55.6 trillion worth of goods, whereas India, with a per capita GDP of $2,400 and a population of 1.44 billion, produces and consumes $3.5 trillion.
This disparity has been a major cause of global warming, impacting developing nations more severely.
The Narendra Modi government emphasizes the importance of economic growth in the Global South, as articulated in the G-20 New Delhi Declaration of September 2023.
India aims to achieve net zero by 2070, with a focus on eradicating poverty within the next decade. The Global South, including India, prioritizes economic growth to alleviate poverty over responding to population growth concerns.

Future Population Trends:

The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by the end of the decade, with Asia overpopulated and Europe underpopulated.
Urbanization will strain infrastructure and amenities.
The theme of World Population Day focuses on women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
While progress has been made, maternal deaths remain high in developing countries. India, as the most populous country, must address issues of inequality and the care burden on women.

Migration Trends:

Migration will continue to shape population distribution. With 60 crore Indians migrating within the country annually and 2 crore abroad, India needs to develop new cities to alleviate pressure on existing megacities.
Urban centres drive the global economy, but Indian cities rank poorly in global quality of life assessments.
India must address urban challenges to make its cities livable. Accurate population data from a census is needed to draft better policies.

International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD):

The United Nations coordinated an International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, on 5–13 September 1994.
Its resulting Programme of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The ICPD was the largest intergovernmental conference on population and development ever held, with 179 governments participating and some 11,000 registered participants- from governments, UN specialized agencies and organizations, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and the media.
Context and history:
- The first World Population Conference, organised by the League of Nations and Margaret Sanger, had been held at the Salle Central in Geneva, Switzerland from 29 August to 3 September 1927.
- The first World Population Conference sponsored by the United Nations was held in 1954 in Rome, a second in 1965 in Belgrade, a third in 1974 in Bucharest, a fourth in 1984 in Mexico City.