By 2028, India will be the most populous nation on earth, crossing China’s anticipated population then of 1.45 billion. Such numbers always seem overwhelming but the trend of growth need not be a ticking time bomb if we, as a people, know what to do about it. While a largely illiterate population in ill-health and with poor skills can be a drain on a nation’s resources, the same people can be our most valuable national asset if their health and education are looked after and their skill sets enhanced by proper training.
The challenge is greatest when we have such immense numbers. And yet the advantage of a population of whom more than half are below 35 is clear. The rise of population in developing countries is bound to be higher as historically people tended to have more children in countries where life expectancy was low and the need for “hands” in terms of labour was acutely felt, especially by those engaged in agriculture.
This is not a demographic timebomb provided we realise that our destiny lies in our hands. “Let China sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the earth”, Napoleon had once said, and the rest is history: China woke up to its strength of population and progressed economically to challenge countries that were traditionally the world’s most powerful. The choice is clear — we must look after our people, and their health, education and training, in order to progress. We can’t expect others to do it for us.