Countries like US, Japan ageing, India getting younger: Swaraj

Varanasi: Underlining that countries such as the US, Japan and China are ageing rapidly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday said India is getting younger and this demographic perspective offers it an "unprecedented edge" that will help in building a "New Young India" by 2022.

Swaraj, in her inaugural address at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, said the Indian diaspora has dramatically changed the world's perception of Indians and our country.

"India has the largest diaspora in the world, at almost 31 million, which is spread throughout the globe. However, what marks all of you is the shared common identity of Indianness and a shared common origin India, land of your forefathers," Swaraj said at the Youth PBD.

The Youth PBD marked the start of the 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas and was attended by Swaraj, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, among others.

The 15th PBD will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of chief guest of the event Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth here Tuesday.

Swaraj, in her remarks, said the success of each and every Indian emigrant is a testimonial to their unbeatable spirit, dedication and patience in the face of extreme hardships.

"While the Indian diaspora started migrating centuries ago, it is the migration of the educated, highly-skilled and dynamic young Indians that has brought laurels to India," she said, noting that many of the multi-national corporations are headed by young Indian-origin CEOs such as Sundar Pichai of Google and Satya Nadella of Microsoft.

Swaraj highlighted that by 2020, the average age in India will be 29, making it the world's youngest country with 64 per cent of the population in the working age group.

"While countries like the US, Western Europe, Japan and even China are ageing rapidly, India is getting younger and younger. By 2022, these ageing countries will become super-aged with over one-third of their population over 65 years of age, while India will have the world's largest working population.

"This demographic prospective offers India an unprecedented edge, which could further contribute to building a New Young India by 2022. It is projected that

India will be the source of skilled manpower to the world by 2022," she said. PTI