Graphic | What will be the 10 most populous countries for the year 2100

India will overtake China as the most populous nation in the world by 2027, while the population of China is expected to decline by 375 million by 2100, according to UN estimates. Approximately that year, the world's population could reach a maximum of 11 billion people. USA will lose its third position against Nigeria and four countries on the African continent (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt) will overtake Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia and Mexico and will be in the top 10. "Most of the fastest growing populations are in the poorest countries," he said. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

In 20 years, people in high-income countries are expected to reach their peak, and for many important economies the decline in the population is already under way. Most of Europe is down and by 2100, its population is expected to decrease by 120 million from about 750 million to about 630 million today., according to the United Nations population data released today. It is expected that only Italy will lose 20 million people, Germany nine million and that the population of Albania, Moldova and Serbia will be halved.

The United Kingdom is the main European exception. It is estimated that its population will increase by 10 million people. Increases are also expected in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland. Outside of Europe, some of the demographic changes are even more dramatic, India is expected to overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2027 and reach a population peak around 2060. It is expected that the population of China has decreased by 375 million for 2100.

The world's population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and could reach a peak of 11 billion by 2100. Of the top 10 countries, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia and Mexico are expected to be replaced by the world's largest economy. Ethiopia, Egypt and Republic Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. The United States falls to fourth place while Nigeria moves to third place. "Most of the fastest growing populations are in the poorest countries," Liu Zhenmin said. By the year 2100, less than one in ten will be Chinese, compared to almost one in five today.