How did China and India balloon to over 1 billion people?

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Counting people isn’t exactly a breeze, but in 2023 the UN confirmed a global plot twist: India now has more people than China. For decades, China held the population crown, but years of the one-child policy curbed its growth, giving India the edge.

It’s a milestone that undoubtedly reshapes the world’s demographic map, but how did both countries swell to over a billion residents each? Click through this gallery to find out.

India’s growth starts at home

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

“In today’s India, realizing dreams begins with individuals and families,” said Narendra Modi, India's prime minister. “Without education and health, neither households nor the nation can thrive.” 

India takes the population lead

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

India hasn’t done a census since 2011, so exact numbers are fuzzy, but estimates put the population at over 1.4 billion. That’s more than all of Europe (744 million) or even the entire Americas combined (1.04 billion).

The heartbeat of population growth

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Fertility rates play a major role in shaping a country’s population. On average, women need to have 2.1 children for a population to maintain itself; anything lower leads to decline, anything higher fuels growth.

The Green Revolution

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s and '70s boosted food production, making it easier to feed the country’s expanding population and sustain growth during a critical period.

Faith and family size

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Some of India’s religious traditions promote large families. Hinduism, the country’s dominant faith, has long valued procreation and family life, though these views are gradually shifting in modern urban areas.

Growth breeds growth

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

India’s economy surged in the late 20th century and into the early 2000s. As opportunities improved, urban families began having fewer children, yet the population keeps growing fueled by momentum from earlier high birth rates.

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Despite its booming population, India typically experiences more people leaving than arriving, resulting in negative net migration. In 2021, the UN Population Division estimated that India lost around 300,000 people due to migration.

China’s population puzzle

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

With an estimated 1.416 billion people in 2025, China’s population growth stems from a similarly complex mix of history, society, economics, and politics, each playing a key role in shaping its demographic story.

Confucianism and China’s family values

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Confucian teachings, which emphasize loyalty and family structure, played a major role in the preference for larger families in traditional Chinese society. The focus on honoring parents and maintaining family lineage shaped population trends.

Economic and population growth

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

China’s rapid economic growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries usually correlates with lower birth rates. However, by the time these economic reforms took hold, China’s population had already grown significantly, shaping its demographic landscape.

The one-child policy

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Introduced in 1979 to curb population growth, the one-child policy dramatically reduced birth rates in China. It also caused demographic challenges, including an aging population, gender imbalances, and harsh measures like forced abortions and sterilizations.

Healthcare advancements in China

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Similar to India, China saw crucial gains in health care and sanitation after the 1950s. Modern medical advancements and improved access to health care throughout the 20th century reduced infant mortality and increased life expectancy, especially in urban areas.

China’s industrial boom

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Starting in the late 1970s, China transitioned from a command economy to a more market-oriented system, fueling urbanization and industrial growth.

Shifting family sizes

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Similar to India, younger generations in China are choosing smaller families nowadays. However, due to past policies and deep-rooted cultural norms, these changes have taken longer to take effect, making the shift in family size a gradual process.

A challenge of resources

India’s growth starts at home, India takes the population lead, The heartbeat of population growth, The Green Revolution, Faith and family size, Growth breeds growth, India's migration trends, China’s population puzzle, Confucianism and China’s family values, Economic and population growth, The one-child policy, Healthcare advancements in China, China’s industrial boom, Shifting family sizes, A challenge of resources

Unsurprisingly, India’s growing population presents great challenges in providing electricity, food, and housing. Many of its vast cities are already grappling with water shortages, pollution, and overcrowded slums, making resource management a pressing issue.

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