Global Population in 2025: A Comprehensive Overview
Global Population in 2025: 8.23 Billion and the Top 50 Countries
The world population in 2025 is projected at 8,231,613,070 people at mid-year by the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024. India ranks first at 1,463,865,525 people, followed by China at 1,416,096,094 and the United States at 347,275,807.
The metric is total population, both sexes combined, at mid-year on July 1, 2025. The ranking uses one official international source: the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division. Higher population ranks higher.
Coverage: 50 confirmed countries. Status: 50 official UN projections, 0 observed values, 0 calculated country values and 0 modeled projections created for this page. The country values are directly published in the UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection series.
UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection for July 1, 2025.
India leads the 2025 ranking with 1,463,865,525 people.
Côte d'Ivoire is the 50th confirmed entry with 32,711,547 people.
The 50 listed countries total 7.112 billion people.
Both sexes combined, mid-year population, July 1, 2025.
All ranking rows are official UN medium-variant projections.
Overview: how large is the global population in 2025?
The United Nations projects a mid-year 2025 world population of 8.232 billion. India and China together account for about 35.0% of the total, while the ten most populous countries account for about 56.8%.
The Top 50 countries contain 7,112,128,196 people, equivalent to about 86.4% of the UN world total. These shares are calculated from the raw population values shown in the ranking and the UN world total; they are descriptive calculations, not separate forecasts.
This ranking measures demographic scale. It does not measure population density, economic output, living standards, population growth, age structure or migration.
Top 10 most populous countries in 2025
India and China form a distinct first tier, each above 1.4 billion people. The United States ranks third at 347.3 million, followed by Indonesia and Pakistan. Five of the ten largest populations are in Asia, two are in Africa, one is in Europe, one is in Northern America and one is in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Top 10 countries by total population, UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection for July 1, 2025
| Rank | Entity | Value | Region / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1.464B | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 2 | China | 1.416B | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 3 | United States | 347.3M | Northern America; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 4 | Indonesia | 285.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 5 | Pakistan | 255.2M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 6 | Nigeria | 237.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 7 | Brazil | 212.8M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 175.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 9 | Russian Federation | 144.0M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 135.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; projection period begins 2024; medium variant. |
Ranks use the raw UN population values, descending. Abbreviated values are rounded only for display.
Chart: Top 20 countries by population in 2025
India is the 100% reference bar. China is close behind, followed by a sharp drop to the United States and the rest of the Top 20.
Methodology
The ranking uses the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024. The metric is total population, both sexes combined, at mid-year on July 1, 2025. Countries are ranked from highest to lowest raw population value.
Metric and unit
Total population, both sexes combined, expressed as persons. Display labels use billions or millions for readability; ranking uses the full raw values.
Data status
Every country value is an official UN projection directly published in WPP 2024. No country population is forecast independently on this page.
Projection method
WPP 2024 projects populations using the cohort-component framework and assumptions for fertility, mortality and international migration. The ranking uses the UN medium variant.
Projection period
In WPP 2024, the projection period begins in 2024. The 2025 values therefore belong to the projection series rather than the historical estimate series.
Coverage and exclusions
The table includes exactly the 50 highest confirmed country populations for 2025. World, regional and other aggregate rows are excluded.
Region method
Broad regions follow the United Nations M49 statistical framework. Regions are used only for grouping and filtering and do not affect rank.
Calculated summary metrics use published UN inputs only. Top 50 coverage is 7,112,128,196 divided by 8,231,613,070, or 86.4%. The Top 10 share is approximately 56.8%, and India plus China account for approximately 35.0% of the world total. These are descriptive calculations, not projections.
Raw values are retained as whole-person numbers for ranking. Millions and billions are rounded only for display. A single UN dataset is used throughout so that reference year, definition and methodology remain consistent.
The metric does not measure live population, population density, citizenship, migration flows, birth rates, age structure, economic size or living standards. National statistical offices may publish different figures because reference dates, territorial coverage, revisions and demographic methods can differ.
Main ranking: Top 50 countries by population in 2025
Search by country, filter by broad UN region or data status, change the sort order, or limit the ranking to the Top 10 or Top 20.
Top 50 countries by population, UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection for July 1, 2025
| Rank | Entity | Value | Region / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1.464B | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 2 | China | 1.416B | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 3 | United States | 347.3M | Northern America; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 4 | Indonesia | 285.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 5 | Pakistan | 255.2M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 6 | Nigeria | 237.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 7 | Brazil | 212.8M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 175.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 9 | Russian Federation | 144.0M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 135.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 11 | Mexico | 131.9M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 12 | Japan | 123.1M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 13 | Egypt | 118.4M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 14 | Philippines | 116.8M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 15 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 112.8M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 16 | Viet Nam | 101.6M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 17 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 92.4M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 18 | Türkiye | 87.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 19 | Germany | 84.1M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 20 | Thailand | 71.6M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 21 | United Republic of Tanzania | 70.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 22 | United Kingdom | 69.6M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 23 | France | 66.7M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 24 | South Africa | 64.7M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 25 | Italy | 59.1M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 26 | Kenya | 57.5M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 27 | Myanmar | 54.9M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 28 | Colombia | 53.4M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 29 | Republic of Korea | 51.7M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 30 | Sudan | 51.7M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 31 | Uganda | 51.4M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 32 | Spain | 47.9M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 33 | Algeria | 47.4M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 34 | Iraq | 47.0M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 35 | Argentina | 45.9M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 36 | Afghanistan | 43.8M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 37 | Yemen | 41.8M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 38 | Canada | 40.1M | Northern America; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 39 | Angola | 39.0M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 40 | Ukraine | 39.0M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 41 | Morocco | 38.4M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 42 | Poland | 38.1M | Europe; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 43 | Uzbekistan | 37.1M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 44 | Malaysia | 36.0M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 45 | Mozambique | 35.6M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 46 | Ghana | 35.1M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 47 | Peru | 34.6M | Latin America & Caribbean; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 48 | Saudi Arabia | 34.6M | Asia; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 49 | Madagascar | 32.7M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
| 50 | Côte d'Ivoire | 32.7M | Africa; official UN projection; WPP 2024; target 1 Jul 2025; medium variant. |
All ranking values come from one numeric source: the United Nations DESA Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, medium-variant mid-year population projection for 2025.
Insights from the 2025 population ranking
Key Insight
India and China together contain about 2.880 billion people, equivalent to approximately 35.0% of the projected 2025 world population.
Notable Pattern
The ten largest countries contain about 56.8% of the global total, showing how strongly population is concentrated in a small number of countries.
Regional Concentration
The Top 50 contains 19 Asian countries, 16 African countries, 8 European countries, 5 from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Northern America.
Outlier
There is a sharp scale break after the top two: China's population is about 4.1 times that of the United States at rank three.
What the 2025 population ranking means
This ranking measures demographic scale, not density or economic power. India and China dominate the distribution, and the large gap between China and the United States shows how unevenly population is distributed among the largest countries.
The 2025 figures are official UN projections rather than exact observed headcounts on July 1, 2025. National statistical offices may publish different estimates because their reference dates, source data and demographic methods can differ.
Population rank should therefore be used for consistent cross-country comparison within the WPP 2024 framework, not as a substitute for census counts, growth rates, age profiles or economic indicators.
FAQ
What is the world population in 2025?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant projects a mid-year 2025 world population of 8,231,613,070 people, or about 8.232 billion.
Which country has the largest population in 2025?
India ranks first with a projected mid-year population of 1,463,865,525 people. China ranks second with 1,416,096,094.
Are these official published values?
Yes. The values are directly published by the United Nations Population Division in World Population Prospects 2024. Because 2025 is within the projection period, they are official UN projections rather than observed population counts.
Are these census counts for 2025?
No. They are UN demographic projections for the July 1, 2025 mid-year reference point. National census counts use separate census dates and methodologies.
Why use one UN source instead of national estimates?
A single international dataset keeps the reference year, population concept and methodology consistent across every country in the ranking.
How are the countries ranked?
Countries are sorted by their raw 2025 total population from highest to lowest. Display rounding to millions or billions does not affect rank.
What does the UN medium variant mean?
It is the central UN projection path based on assumptions for fertility, mortality and international migration within the cohort-component demographic framework.
How much of the world population lives in the Top 50 countries?
The 50 countries shown total 7,112,128,196 people. Dividing that by the projected world total of 8,231,613,070 gives approximately 86.4%.
Does a high population rank mean a country is densely populated?
No. Total population is an absolute count. Population density is a separate metric that relates population to land area.
Can these figures change in future UN revisions?
Yes. Population estimates and projections can be revised when new census, survey, registration or other demographic evidence becomes available. This ranking is tied specifically to World Population Prospects 2024.
Sources
United Nations — World Population Prospects 2024
Primary numeric source for the 2025 country population projections and the official UN population series used throughout the ranking.
UN DESA — World Population Prospects 2024
Official Population Division publication page describing the WPP 2024 revision, estimates, projections and country-area coverage.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/World-Population-Prospects-2024
UN Population Data Portal — Total population by sex
Used to verify the total-population indicator, mid-year concept and the UN world total for the 2025 target year.
https://population.un.org/dataportal/data/indicators/49/locations/900/start/2024/end/2025/table
World Population Prospects 2024 — Methodology
Methodological source for the estimate/projection boundary, cohort-component framework and assumptions underlying the UN population projections.
https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Files/WPP2024_Methodology.pdf
World Population Prospects 2024 — Summary of Results
Official context for the WPP 2024 revision and interpretation of global population estimates and projections.
https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Files/WPP2024_Summary-of-Results.pdf
United Nations Statistics Division — M49 Standard
Official source for the broad statistical geographic groupings used in the region filter and ranking notes.
