Who has eclipsed China in terms of the number of inhabitants? Top 10 most populous countries and cities

In November 2022, the world’s population reached 8 billion, and it continues to increase — approximately 140 people are born in the world per minute. In which regions are the population growth rates most noticeable and where do the most people live? We found out and compiled the top 10 most populous countries and cities. 

It is logistically impossible to track the exact number of births and deaths in the world in real time, so modern population specialists use complex mathematical models to create detailed estimates and forecasts. What is the situation at the moment, in which corners of the planet the largest number of people live and what is the reason for this, what experts predict — we understand our material.

Top 10 most populous countries in the world

Based on statistics, we see that India has already overtaken China and has become the most populous country in the world. 

1. India has more than 1.45 billion people. The area is 3.3M km2. 
2. China has more than 1.41 billion people. The area is 9.7M km2. 
3. The United States has more than 345 million people. The area is 9.4M km2. 
4. Indonesia — more than 283 million people. The area is 1.9M km2. 
5. Pakistan — more than 251 million people. The area is 881.9K km2. 
6. Nigeria has more than 232 million people. The area is 923.8K km2. 
7. Brazil has more than 211 million people. The area is 8.5M km2. 
8. Bangladesh has more than 173 million people. The area is 147.6K km2. 
9. Russia has more than 144 million people. The area is 17.1M km2. 
10. Ethiopia has more than 132 million people. The area is 1.1M km2. 

does it contribute to population growth? Advances in medicine that increase life expectancy, and improved health care in developing and least developed countries, which reduces infant mortality. 

It is noteworthy that many fewer people live in a number of the world’s largest economies, in particular in Europe. The United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy are among the ten largest economies with populations of less than 100 million people. Or take Canada: this country is a major economic player and one of the largest countries in the world by land area, but has a relatively small population of about 38 million inhabitants.

Among the countries where the least people live are the Vatican, Niue, Tokelau, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Tuvalu, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Palau, San Marino and others.

The entire list of countries and up-to-date real-time data can be tracked here. 

Top 10 most populous cities in the world 

Istanbul is the most densely populated of the European cities — it is home to almost 16 million people. All over the world, the top 10 includes: 

1. Tokyo (Japan) — more than 37 million people. 
2. Delhi (India) — more than 33 million people.
3. Shanghai (China) — more than 29 million people.
4. Dhaka (Bangladesh) — more than 23 million people.
5. Sao Paulo (Brazil) — more than 22.8 million Human.
6. Cairo (Egypt) — more than 22.6 million people.
7. Mexico City (Mexico) — more than 22.5 million people.
8. Beijing (China)— more than 22.1 million people.
9. Mumbai (India) — more than 21.6 million people.
10. Osaka (Japan) — more than 18 million people.

The entire current list of cities can be viewed here. 

What are the experts’ forecasts? 

Although the world’s population is currently growing on a daily basis, the overall rate of this growth has been slowing down for decades. The population growth rate peaked in 1970, amounting to 2.06% per year, and in 2020 — for the first time since 1950 — the growth rate fell below 1% (to 0.87%). 

Here are the forecasts shared by the United Nations: by 2030, the world’s population could increase to 8.5 billion, by 2050 to 9.7 billion, and by 2080 to 10.4 billion. At this point, the population will stabilize, and by 2100, it will most likely begin to decline. It is expected that the largest reduction will occur in Eastern Europe, and the largest growth will occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is also projected that the proportion of people over 65 years of age in the global population will increase from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. At the same time, there will be about twice as many pensioners as children under the age of 5. This imbalance will lead to a significant burden on the economies and infrastructure of countries, as it will become increasingly difficult to replace people retiring.

Author

Yulia Yanukovych Editor-in-Chief

I am responsible for the work of the editorial office. I write expert interviews and guides.

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