Inside India’s explosive population growth

 

As India becomes the world’s most populous country, 101 East investigates controversial family planning measures designed to curb population growth.

India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country.

Driven by states like Bihar, the country’s population is forecast to continue growing.

India has passed China this week as the world's most populous nation | DW News

 

For decades, China topped the list as the world's most populous country. But this week, India is thought to have overtaken China – according to the UN. India is now home to more than 1.4 Billion people, and growing. India's expanding population, and its booming economy, have been helping give Delhi more clout on the global stage. The country's growth is seen by many as a source of national pride. But there are also worries about whether there will be enough housing and jobs for the growing population.

Why China's population is shrinking

 For the first time in six decades, China’s population is shrinking, and it’s predicted it could create a demographic crisis. That’s because China isn’t just shrinking, it’s also aging. And the majority of Chinese couples are not considering having more than one child. Because of this, China is predicted to lose nearly 50 percent of its population by 2100.

Farming of the future - From "green genetic engineering" to vertical farms

 

Currently, enough food is produced worldwide to feed everyone alive. But what if, by the end of this century, more than 10 billion people inhabit the earth? Agriculture as we know it today is highly efficient. It feeds more people than at any time in history. But there is a catch: Food may fill our supermarkets, but it is pushing our planet to its limits.

How war is changing Russia’s population

 

President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is causing major changes back home. Hundreds of thousands of Russian men are being mobilized to fight and tens of thousands have already been killed or injured. Meanwhile, many Russians have left their country and millions of Ukrainians are thought to have arrived.

Which Countries Have Declining Populations & What Can They Do About It?

 

How China’s ageing population may topple its economic ambitions

 China is struggling to encourage couples to have more children, risking its long-term economic prospects.

China’s status as the factory of the world is under threat. Not from the United States, which is looking at ways to slow its economic dominance, but from its own falling birth rate.

Fewer babies mean fewer workers to power factories and economic growth.

Japan's Population Problem

Childbearing seems to be in the decrease globally in the developed world. While we have niche dating apps on our cell phones to net a potential date and perhaps embark on a relationship, younger generations tend to miss out on the next steps of marriage and having babies. Thus many nations are recording lower birth-rate figures, and nowhere is this more noticeable than in Japan. But is it just the lack of marriages that is responsible for the drop of 1 million people in Japan’s population statistics? Or are other factors at play?

The Philippines' Population Debate

Family planning is one of the Philippines' most volatile policy areas. A reproductive health bill which would give information and access to all forms of contraception has been delayed in Congress for more than 16 years. In that time, the population in the predominantly Roman Catholic country has almost doubled, draining health and economic resources. With some two million children born every year, the UN warns that by 2025 the Philippines will not have enough resources to feed its population.

When I Die: Inside Japan's Death Industry

101 East explores how Japan's funeral industry is getting creative as the ageing nation runs out of space for the dead.


Sumiko hops into a coffin and lies down, testing it for size. For her, it is a chance to "try before you die".

The 40-year-old woman is among a growing number of Japanese taking a proactive approach to planning their funeral, sparking a booming death industry.

In 2014, approximately 1.26 million people died in Japan. And with an ageing population, that number is estimated to continue rising until 2042.

Japan is running out of space to bury the dead, and traditional funerals have become expensive as a result. The death industry and temples are trying to get creative by finding innovative, affordable ways to send their clients into the afterlife. We take a look at how Japan says its final goodbyes.