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Just 11 years after the world population hit 7 billion, Vinice Mabansag, born on 15 November in Manila, was given the symbolic title of the 8 billionth person. The milestone prompted reflection around the globe about the rise in the population in recent decades, driven primarily by the developing world.
The Guardian’s south Asia correspondent, Hannah Ellis-Peterson, tells Nosheen Iqbal how India, which is due to overtake China as the most populous country, views the issue. A ‘youth bulge’ has presented India with the opportunity for a ‘demographic dividend’ but only if it can provide those people with education and opportunities.
For Aryan, a 23-year-old student, the massive young population of Indians means that competition is incredibly fierce for well-paying professional jobs. He is looking to broader horizons in Canada or the UK for his future.
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Meanwhile, as Cop27 ends in Egypt, the question of whether the planet can support a population that is projected to reach 10 billion by the end of this century is one of the most urgent facing humanity.
Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP
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