India population has officially crossed the 145 crore mark, according to the latest provisional data released by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. This makes India the world most populous nation for the second consecutive year, ahead of China, which has seen its population decline for two years running. The data reveals significant variation in growth rates across states, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan accounting for nearly 40% of the total increase.
Demographic experts note that while India overall fertility rate has fallen to 2.0, close to the replacement level of 2.1, the absolute number of additions remains large due to the country young population base. The Union Ministry of Health said the data will inform the next phase of family welfare programmes targeted at states with higher fertility rates. The full census report, delayed since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to be published by mid-2026.