BEIJING — China’s population rose by 15.23 million people in 2018, marking a continued decrease in the growth rate of the world’s most populous nation. Numbers released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday put the population at 1.395 billion in 2018, marking a growth rate of 3.81 percent over the previous year. The government estimates China’s population will peak at 1.442 billion in 2029 before beginning to decline the year after. India, the world’s second most populous nation, has also been experiencing slower population growth. Its total population stood at 1.362 billion this month based on United Nations estimates.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 21, 2019 05:26 UTC