Band 9: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The table below shows top ten countries with largest population in 2019, and how it is projected to change by 2100. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The table compares the ten most populous countries in 2019 and presents projections for their populations in 2100.

Overall, India is expected to become the most populous country by 2100, overtaking China, whose population is predicted to decline significantly. Additionally, several African nations, particularly Nigeria, are projected to experience substantial population growth over the period.

In 2019, China had the largest population at approximately 1.4 billion, followed closely by India with around 1.38 billion. The United States ranked third with about 331 million people, while Indonesia and Pakistan recorded populations of 274 million and 221 million respectively. Other countries such as Brazil, Nigeria, and Bangladesh also had considerable populations, though significantly lower than the top two.

By 2100, India’s population is forecast to rise to around 1.55 billion, whereas China’s will drop sharply to about 941 million. Nigeria is predicted to grow dramatically to 730 million, becoming the third most populous nation. Meanwhile, the United States will increase moderately, while countries like Brazil are expected to experience slight declines.