The bar chart illustrates the percentage of the world’s total population living in India, China, the USA and Japan in 1950 and 2002, with projections for 2050.
Overall, China had the largest proportion in the first two years, but its share is expected to decline considerably by 2050. In contrast, India shows a steady increase and is predicted to surpass China. Meanwhile, the USA remains relatively stable, whereas Japan experiences a significant decrease.
In 1950, China accounted for approximately 23% of the global population, compared to 15% for India. By 2002, China’s figure had fallen to 20%, while India’s rose to 17%. It is forecast that China’s proportion will continue to decline to 15% in 2050, whereas India’s will increase further to 19%, overtaking China.
Regarding the USA and Japan, both countries saw declines over the period. The USA decreased from 7% in 1950 to 5% in 2002 and is expected to remain stable at this level in 2050. By contrast, Japan’s share fell from 4% to 3% and is predicted to drop significantly to just 1% by 2050.
