In October 1999, the world's population reached 6 billion. The largest single contributor to population growth is India, which is on track to become the world's most populous country. During the month of August 1999, India's 1 billionth resident was born, one of 2 milion babies born in India that month. Although China, with 1.27 billion people, has long been recognized as the world's most populous country, India is gaining on China. Within 45 years, at current growth rates, India will surpass China as the world's largest population.
Large families are still important in many poor countries, contributing to rapid population growth.
India's growth has been rapid, resulting from longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality in recent decades. In the half century since India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947, the average life expectancy has risen from just 39 years to 63 years, as high as that in Russia today. The large population has substantial momentum despite falling birth rates, though. In the same half century the country's population has nearly tripled, from 345 million to 1 billion. In 15 years India's population will exceed those of all developed countries combined, according to the United Nations Population Division.