Population Ranking Changes - 50 Years of Shifting Demographics

India Surpasses China as World's Most Populous

In 2023, India's population surpassed China's, making it the world's most populous country. China's one-child policy (1979-2015) caused a sharp decline in birth rates, and the country began losing population in 2022. India maintains a younger demographic profile and is projected to continue growing until around 2060.

Africa's Rapid Growth

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the fastest population growth over the past 50 years. Nigeria grew from about 60 million in 1975 to over 230 million in 2024, rising from 6th to 4th place globally. UN projections suggest Nigeria will surpass the United States by 2050 to become the world's third most populous country.

Countries in Population Decline

Japan's population has been declining since its 2008 peak and stands at approximately 123 million in 2024. Russia, Germany, Italy, and South Korea face similar trends. South Korea's total fertility rate of around 0.7 is the world's lowest, and projections suggest its population could halve by 2100 at current rates.

Tips for Population Quizzes

In GeoHint's Population Quiz, you compare two countries. Counter-intuitive matchups include Bangladesh (170M) having more people than Russia (140M), and Ethiopia (130M) exceeding Germany (84M). African and South Asian populations are often underestimated, so keeping these figures in mind improves your accuracy.