The World’s Most Populous Countries
In the 16th century, the total population of the earth is estimated to have been around half a billion people. Today, about 500 years later, we are up to almost eight billion! Here we have listed the world’s most populous countries. See all on Abbreviationfinder.
In the last century alone, the total population of the earth has increased by over one billion people. The six billion mark was crossed in 1999, and today we are approaching a staggering eight billion homo sapiens on the planet.
In the Nordic countries, however, we still live relatively sparsely populated and Sweden with its more than 10 million residents ends up far down (place 89) on the list of the world’s most populous countries.
10. Mexico
Population: 129.2 million
Population density: 61.9 / km² (120th place in the world)
Capital: Mexico City
Mexico was previously in eleventh place among the world’s most populous countries, but in recent years has caught up and overtaken Japan. With a population of about 129 million residents, the country is the most populous Spanish-speaking area on earth.
9. Russia
Population: 146.8 million
Population density: 8.3 / km² (place 184 in the world)
Capital: Moscow
Despite its impressive population, Russia is relatively sparsely populated due to its vast land area. However, the European side is more densely populated than the Asian side. The country is multicultural and contains many different ethnic groups, but the majority are considered Russians.
8. Bangladesh
Population: 164.7 million
Population density: 1,173.3 / km² (6th place in the world)
Capital: Dhaka
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated areas, with just over 150 million people crowded over an area of 148,000 square kilometers. The population is young, with about 60 percent of the age group 0-25 years, and life expectancy only around 65 years.
7. Nigeria
Population: 190.9 million
Population density: 196.5 / km² (49th place in the world)
Capital: Abuja
Nigeria is the most populous nation on the entire African continent. The population is divided into over 200 ethnic groups, the largest of which are Hausa and Fulani, which together make up about 30 percent of the country’s residents.
6. Brazil
Population: 207.7 million
Population density: 24.0 / km² (153rd place in the world)
Capital: Brasilia
With its approximately 207.7 million residents, Brazil is the world’s sixth most populous nation. The average age is extremely low, around 27 years for men and 28.5 years for women. This is largely due to the fact that the country is very poor and has a high infant mortality rate, especially in the huge slum areas outside the big cities.
5. Pakistan
Population: 207.8 million
Population density: 250.1 / km² (35th place in the world)
Capital: Islamabad
Pakistan is one of the most populous countries in the world with just under 207.8 million residents. The majority of the population is Muslims (80%), with as many as 65 percent being Sunni Muslims, followed by Shia Muslims (20%) and Ahmadiyya Muslims and Sufis (2.3%).
4. Indonesia
Population: 261.9 million
Population density: 134.4 / km² (63rd place in the world)
Capital: Jakarta
The population of the former Dutch colony of Indonesia today is around 261.9 million. Of these, about 130 million live in Java, making the island the most populous in the world. With the current population growth, it is estimated that Indonesia’s population will grow to as much as 315 million by 2035.
3. USA
Population: 327.8 million
Population density: 33.0 / km² (145th place in the world)
Capital: Washington DC
The United States is the world’s third most populous country. It is also the only industrialized country predicted to increase its population, as population growth is significantly higher than in Europe, Japan and South Korea. The country has more nationalities than you can count, and the largest immigration in recent decades has mainly come from Mexico, China, India and the Philippines.
2. India
Population: 1.368 billion
Population density: 380.8 / km² (21st place in the world)
Capital: New Delhi
With over 1.3 billion residents, India is home to 17.5 percent of the world’s population. During the 1970s, an attempt was made to introduce family planning, which was hampered by the low status of women, expensive dowries for girls and an unshakable caste system. The population of India is very young, more than half are under the age of 25, and the large increase in population is creating a massive pressure on all the cities of the country.
1. China
Population: 1.390 billion
Population density: 143.3 / km² (58th place in the world)
Capital: Beijing
According to Countryaah, China is today the world’s most populous country and holds about a fifth of the world’s population within its borders. The days as the most populous country are counted, however, as India is gaining momentum and is expected to resume by 2035.
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