India overtook China in 2023 to become the world’s most populous nation. The country’s youthful workforce could be its greatest asset—or its hardest challenge.
India’s massive population shows regional variations in character. Some parts of South India are already ageing, while U.P., Bihar and parts of the Northeast have a youth bulge. Photo by Neelakshi Singh on Unsplash.
India overtook China in 2023 to become the world’s most populous nation. The country’s youthful workforce could be its greatest asset—or its hardest challenge.
India surpassed China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, a demographic milestone that is both cause for optimism and concern. While a young, growing population offers potential for innovation and growth, it also raises urgent questions about the country’s readiness to absorb the millions entering the labour market each year.
The central questions are: Does the Indian economy generate adequate employment opportunities for the youth population? Can the Indian labour market accommodate the large pool of the youth population?
