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Top 10 Most Populated Countries in the World 2026

The world's 10 most populated countries hold approximately 57% of all humans on Earth. India and China each have over 1.4 billion people; the third-place United States is less than a quarter their size.

Last updated · Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024

#1
India
1.45B
17.9% of world · UN WPP 2024
#2
China
1.42B
17.5% of world · UN WPP 2024
#3
United States
345.4M
4.3% of world · UN WPP 2024
36%
India + China
1 of every 3 humans lives in India or China
¼
USA vs leaders
US (340M) is less than a quarter the size of either leader
57%
Top 10 share
2 of every 3 humans live in one of these 10 countries
6/10
In Asia
Six of the top 10 sit on the Asian continent

The Top 10 on the Map

Numbered badges show rank. Hover any country for details · Click to open.

Population: UN WPP 2024 · Boundaries: Natural Earth
34976185210
Hover for details · Click to open · Scroll to zoom
Population:No data<1M1–10M10–50M50–200M200M–1B>1B

Top 10 Countries by Population (2024)

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 Revision
Top 10 Countries by Population (2024)#1India1.45B17.9% of world#2China1.42B17.5% of world#3United States345.4M4.3% of world#4Indonesia283.5M3.5% of world#5Pakistan251.3M3.1% of world#6Nigeria232.7M2.9% of world#7Brazil212.0M2.6% of world#8Bangladesh173.6M2.1% of world#9Russia144.8M1.8% of world#10Ethiopia132.1M1.6% of world0250M500M750M1B1.25B1.5BPopulation (mid-year 2024 estimate)
India edged ahead of China in 2023 — the first new #1 in over 2,000 years. The fall-off from #2 to #3 is the steepest gap in the ranking. Click any bar to open that country's full demographics page.

📋 Data Sources & Methodology

Population & projections

Mid-2024 estimates and medium-variant projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Fertility rates (TFR) and 2050 projections per UN published figures.

Area & density

Total area from CIA World Factbook. Density = population ÷ area.

2023: First new #1 in 22 centuries

India overtakes China

India became the world's most populous country in 2023 — the first change at the top of the ranking since the Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BCE. The cause is China stopping, not India accelerating. China's population peaked around 2021 and began declining in 2022.

Source: UN WPP 2024; UN press release, April 2023.

#1 Most Populated

India

1.45B
17.9% of world · UN WPP 2024

Became the world's most populous country in 2023, surpassing China for the first time in over 2,000 years. With more than 1.4 billion people, India holds ~17.8% of humanity.

Demographic snapshot

TFR ~2.0 (near replacement). Median age ~28. India is in the middle of its demographic dividend — adding ~12 million people to its workforce annually. Population density ~480/km².

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: peaks ~1.7B in the late 2060s, then slow decline. Expected to remain world #1 through 2100.

Population 2024
1,450,935,802
Since 2000
+37.1%
Median age
29.5
Density
441.4/km²
Land area
3.29M km²
View full India demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#2 Most Populated

China

1.42B
17.5% of world · UN WPP 2024

Was the most populous country for over 22 centuries until India overtook it in 2023. About 1.43 billion people, ~17.6% of humanity. Mostly Han Chinese (91%) with 55 recognized minority groups.

Demographic snapshot

Population began declining in 2022 — first sustained drop since the famines of the early 1960s. TFR ~1.0, among the world's lowest. Median age ~39 and rising.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: loses several hundred million people by 2100, possibly falling below 800M. Could be overtaken by Pakistan, Nigeria, even DR Congo.

Population 2024
1,419,321,288
Since 2000
+11.8%
Median age
40.6
Density
147.9/km²
Land area
9.60M km²
View full China demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#3 Most Populated

United States

345.4M
4.3% of world · UN WPP 2024

Third most populated and largest among developed economies. About 340 million across 50 states + DC. Continues to grow despite below-replacement fertility, sustained by immigration.

Demographic snapshot

Adds ~1M people per year through immigration plus small natural increase. Median age ~38. TFR ~1.7. Density moderate at ~36/km² but very uneven.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: ~375M by 2050, then plateau. Likely overtaken by Nigeria as #3 in the late 2040s. Immigration policy is the swing factor.

Population 2024
345,426,584
Since 2000
+22.7%
Median age
39.3
Density
35.1/km²
Land area
9.83M km²
View full United States demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#4 Most Populated

Indonesia

283.5M
3.5% of world · UN WPP 2024

Fourth most populous and largest Muslim-majority nation. About 277M across 17,000+ islands. Java alone holds ~56% of the population on 7% of the land.

Demographic snapshot

TFR ~2.1 (right at replacement). Median age ~30 and rising. Growth has slowed from over 2%/yr in the 1970s to under 1% today.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: ~320M by 2050. Remains in the top 6 most populous through this century.

Population 2024
283,487,941
Since 2000
+31.2%
Median age
31.1
Density
148.8/km²
Land area
1.90M km²
View full Indonesia demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#5 Most Populated

Pakistan

251.3M
3.1% of world · UN WPP 2024

Fifth most populated. TFR ~3.4 (among the highest of any major country) and median age ~22 — youngest of the top 10.

Demographic snapshot

Adds ~5M people/year. Population density ~285/km², mostly in the Indus River basin. Urban growth is rapid; Karachi is among the world's 20 largest cities.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: ~368M by 2050 — adding ~100M people in 25 years, more than the entire current population of Germany. Will likely become the world's 4th largest.

Population 2024
251,269,177
Since 2000
+62.2%
Median age
21.5
Density
284.9/km²
Land area
881,913 km²
View full Pakistan demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#6 Most Populated

Nigeria

232.7M
2.9% of world · UN WPP 2024

Africa's most populous country and 6th in the world. ~231 million people — roughly half of West Africa. Over 250 ethnic groups, 500+ languages. Roughly evenly split Muslim/Christian.

Demographic snapshot

TFR ~5.0, median age under 18. ~5M people added per year — like adding one New Zealand. About half the population is under 19. Lagos is among the world's most populous urban areas.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: ~377M by 2050 — overtaking the US to become world #3. By 2100 could reach 540M, third only to India and China.

Population 2024
232,679,488
Since 2000
+84.1%
Median age
19.0
Density
251.9/km²
Land area
923,768 km²
View full Nigeria demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#7 Most Populated

Brazil

212.0M
2.6% of world · UN WPP 2024

Most populous in South America (~211M) and the largest Portuguese-speaking country. Population concentrated along the Atlantic coast.

Demographic snapshot

TFR fell from over 6 in 1960 to under 1.7 today — below replacement. Median age ~34 and rising. No longer in the youth-bulge phase.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: peaks ~220M in the early 2040s, then slow decline. Below 190M by 2100.

Population 2024
211,998,583
Since 2000
+21.8%
Median age
35.4
Density
24.9/km²
Land area
8.52M km²
View full Brazil demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#8 Most Populated

Bangladesh

173.6M
2.1% of world · UN WPP 2024

Highest population density of any large country — ~1,200 people/km². About 174M on ~148,000 km² of mostly low-lying delta. 8th most populated in the world.

Demographic snapshot

A demographic transition success story: TFR fell from 6.4 in 1980 to under 2.1 today, despite limited resources. Median age ~28.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: peaks ~200M in the 2050s, then slow decline. Severe climate vulnerability — much of the country is meters above sea level.

Population 2024
173,562,376
Since 2000
+29.0%
Median age
26.7
Density
1,169/km²
Land area
148,460 km²
View full Bangladesh demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history
#9 Most Populated

Russia

144.8M
1.8% of world · UN WPP 2024

11 time zones, but only ~144M people — smaller than Bangladesh or Pakistan despite Russia being 100× their size. 9th most populated; fallen from top-6 during the 20th century.

Demographic snapshot

TFR ~1.5. Declining since the early 1990s. Recent war accelerated emigration. Aging population with limited immigration prospects.

Outlook to 2050

UN projection: out of the top 10 by the 2030s. ~134M by 2050; possibly under 110M by 2100.

Population 2024
144,820,433
Since 2000
-1.3%
Median age
40.9
Density
8.5/km²
Land area
17.10M km²
View full Russia demographics → population pyramid, age structure, fertility history

How the Top 10 Changes by 2050

Source: UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection

Today (2024)

  1. 1.India1.45B
  2. 2.China1.42B
  3. 3.United States345.4M
  4. 4.Indonesia283.5M
  5. 5.Pakistan251.3M
  6. 6.Nigeria232.7M
  7. 7.Brazil212.0M
  8. 8.Bangladesh173.6M
  9. 9.Russia144.8M
  10. 10.Ethiopia132.1M

Projected (2050)

  1. 1.India1.67B
  2. 2.China1.31B
  3. 3.Nigeria↑377M
  4. 4.United States↓375M
  5. 5.Pakistan368M
  6. 6.Indonesia↓320M
  7. 7.Brazil220M
  8. 8.DR CongoNEW217M
  9. 9.EthiopiaNEW213M
  10. 10.Bangladesh↓203M

Russia and Mexico drop out; DR Congo and Ethiopia enter.

Demographic Glossary

TFR (Total Fertility Rate)
Average children per woman at current rates. Replacement ≈ 2.1.
Demographic transition
Shift from high fertility/mortality to low. Top 10 countries span every stage.
Demographic momentum
Continued growth after fertility falls to replacement — large young cohort still in reproductive years.
Demographic dividend
Period when working-age share peaks vs dependents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top 10 most populated countries?

1. India (1.45B), 2. China (1.42B), 3. United States (345.4M), 4. Indonesia (283.5M), 5. Pakistan (251.3M), 6. Nigeria (232.7M), 7. Brazil (212.0M), 8. Bangladesh (173.6M), 9. Russia (144.8M), 10. Ethiopia (132.1M).

Which country has the highest population?

India (1,450,935,802), ahead of China. India overtook China in 2023.

Did India overtake China?

Yes — in 2023, per UN WPP 2024. India continues growing; China declined from 2022.

How much of the world lives in the top 10?

~57%. The other 185 countries share less than half between them.

Top 10 by 2050?

India, China, Nigeria, US, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh.

Median age range?

Nigeria <18, Pakistan ~22, others late 20s-high 30s, China ~39, Russia ~41.

Fastest grower?

Nigeria — ~5M people/year. Pakistan/Ethiopia close behind.

How is data measured?

National censuses + registers, harmonized by UN Population Division.

What is the demographic dividend?

Period when working-age share peaks vs dependents. India is in it now.

How many in 2050?

~9.7B world total. Peak ~10.3B mid-2080s.

Data source?

UN WPP 2024. Updated 2026-05-22.

Highest density?

Bangladesh — ~1,200/km². India second ~480. Russia least dense ~8.

Migration impact?

US is main beneficiary in top 10 (+1M/yr). Without immigration, US would already shrink. Russia loses people.

Accuracy?

Within 1-2% for most. Nigeria less reliable historically.

Will any reach 2B?

No. India peaks ~1.7B in late 2060s. No country reaches 2B this century.

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Sources & Further Reading