The world's population first reached one billion people in 1803, and reach eight billion in 2023, and will peak at almost 11 billion by the end of the century. Although it took thousands of years to reach one billion people, it did so at the beginning of a phenomenon known as the demographic transition; from this point onwards, population growth has skyrocketed, and since the 1960s the population has increased by one billion people every 12 to 15 years. The demographic transition sees a sharp drop in mortality due to factors such as vaccination, sanitation, and improved food supply; the population boom that follows is due to increased survival rates among children and higher life expectancy among the general population; and fertility then drops in response to this population growth. Regional differences The demographic transition is a global phenomenon, but it has taken place at different times across the world. The industrialized countries of Europe and North America were the first to go through this process, followed by some states in the Western Pacific. Latin America's population then began growing at the turn of the 20th century, but the most significant period of global population growth occurred as Asia progressed in the late-1900s. As of the early 21st century, almost two thirds of the world's population live in Asia, although this is set to change significantly in the coming decades. Future growth The growth of Africa's population, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, will have the largest impact on global demographics in this century. From 2000 to 2100, it is expected that Africa's population will have increased by a factor of almost five. It overtook Europe in size in the late 1990s, and overtook the Americas a decade later. In contrast to Africa, Europe's population is now in decline, as birth rates are consistently below death rates in many countries, especially in the south and east, resulting in natural population decline. Similarly, the population of the Americas and Asia are expected to go into decline in the second half of this century, and only Oceania's population will still be growing alongside Africa. By 2100, the world's population will have over three billion more than today, with the vast majority of this concentrated in Africa. Demographers predict that climate change is exacerbating many of the challenges that currently hinder progress in Africa, such as political and food instability; if Africa's transition is prolonged, then it may result in further population growth that would place a strain on the region's resources, however, curbing this growth earlier would alleviate some of the pressure created by climate change.

The earliest point where scientists can make reasonable estimates for the population of global regions is around 10,000 years before the Common Era (or 12,000 years ago). Estimates suggest that Asia has consistently been the most populated continent, and the least populated continent has generally been Oceania (although it was more heavily populated than areas such as North America in very early years). Population growth was very slow, but an increase can be observed between most of the given time periods. There were, however, dips in population due to pandemics, the most notable of these being the impact of plague in Eurasia in the 14th century, and the impact of European contact with the indigenous populations of the Americas after 1492, where it took almost four centuries for the population of Latin America to return to its pre-1500 level. The world's population first reached one billion people in 1803, which also coincided with a spike in population growth, due to the onset of the demographic transition. This wave of growth first spread across the most industrially developed countries in the 19th century, and the correlation between demographic development and industrial or economic maturity continued until today, with Africa being the final major region to begin its transition in the late-1900s.

Chart and table of World population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

More than two thirds of the world population were living in some form of autocracy in 2022. This high share is explained by the fact that around one third of the world population is residing in India and China, classified as an electoral autocracy and closed autocracy, respectively. India falling from an electoral democracy to an electoral autocracy explains why the share of people living in autocracies increased sharply in 2017.

New York was the most populous state in the union in the year 1900. It had the largest white population, for both native born and foreign born persons, and together these groups made up over 7.1 million of New York's 7.2 million inhabitants at this time. The United States' industrial centers to the north and northeast were one of the most important economic draws during this period, and states in these regions had the largest foreign born white populations. Ethnic minorities Immigration into the agricultural southern states was much lower than the north, and these states had the largest Black populations due to the legacy of slavery - this balance would begin to shift in the following decades as a large share of the Black population migrated to urban centers to the north during the Great Migration. The Japanese and Chinese populations at this time were more concentrated in the West, as these states were the most common point of entry for Asians into the country. The states with the largest Native American populations were to the west and southwest, due to the legacy of forced displacement - this included the Indian Territory, an unorganized and independent territory assigned to the Native American population in the early 1800s, although this was incorporated into Oklahoma when it was admitted into the union in 1907. Additionally, non-taxpaying Native Americans were historically omitted from the U.S. Census, as they usually lived in separate communities and could not vote or hold office - more of an effort was made to count all Native Americans from 1890 onward, although there are likely inaccuracies in the figures given here. Changing distribution Internal migration in the 20th century greatly changed population distribution across the country, with California and Florida now ranking among the three most populous states in the U.S. today, while they were outside the top 20 in 1900. The growth of Western states' populations was largely due to the wave of internal migration during the Great Depression, where unemployment in the east saw many emigrate to "newer" states in search of opportunity, as well as significant immigration from Latin America (especially Mexico) and Asia since the mid-1900s.

The total population in the United States was estimated at 341.2 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - United States Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Chart and table of Africa population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of India population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Canada population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

This statistic shows the total population of men and women in Poland from 1900 until 2020. When this graph begins in 1900, Poland was not a united and independent country, and was split between the Austro-Hungarian, German and Russian empires. Poland eventually became a state in 1918, after the events of the First World War, however it's borders were further to the east than they are today. This statistic shows the populations of Poland within todays borders, and from it we can see that the population of men and women were relatively similar at 12.5 and 12.6 million respectively. In the inter-war years the difference in the number of men and women grew as a result of the First World War and the subsequent conflict to the east, where there were approximately 0.9 million more women.

The next entries in the graph come in 1946, where Poland's population falls to 23.9 million. The number of men falls by almost 5 million and the number of women falls by over 3.5 million. Poland was one of the most devastated countries during the Second World War, due to it's location it was the staging ground for much of the violence during Germany's war against Russia, and the civilian population was devastated during both occupations. With up to 5.8 million total deaths, approximately 17 percent of the total Polish population died during the Second World War, which is a higher proportion than any other country involved in the war.

After the war, Poland's population grew from 1946 onwards until the turn of the century, the difference in the number of men and women remained at around one million people, and the total population exceeded its pre-war levels in the late 1960s. Like many other Eastern European countries, with the fall of the iron curtain in the early 1990s, the population had greater freedom of movement and growth began to slow. By 2000 the population growth was declining, the number of men was and women were at 18.7 and 19.4 million respectively, and both populations then fell by 2015, with the number of men declining at a slightly faster rate than the number of women.

Key information about United States population

• The United States population reached 341.2 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 338.4 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 341.2 million people in Dec 2024 and a record low of 76.1 million people in Dec 1900

CEIC extends history for annual Population. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides year-end Population. Population prior to 1947 excludes residents of Alaska and Hawaii. Population prior to 1947 is a Mid-year estimate sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.


Further information about United States population data

• In the latest reports, United States Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.1 % in Dec 2024
• Monthly earnings of the United States population was 4,896.7 USD in Dec 2024
• United States Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 62.2 % in Dec 2024

The mid-year estimates refer to the population on 30 June of the reference year and are produced in line with the standard United Nations (UN) definition for population estimates. They are the official set of population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries, the regions and counties of England, and local authorities and their equivalents.

The region of present-day China has historically been the most populous region in the world; however, its population development has fluctuated throughout history. In 2022, China was overtaken as the most populous country in the world, and current projections suggest its population is heading for a rapid decline in the coming decades. Transitions of power lead to mortality The source suggests that conflict, and the diseases brought with it, were the major obstacles to population growth throughout most of the Common Era, particularly during transitions of power between various dynasties and rulers. It estimates that the total population fell by approximately 30 million people during the 14th century due to the impact of Mongol invasions, which inflicted heavy losses on the northern population through conflict, enslavement, food instability, and the introduction of bubonic plague. Between 1850 and 1870, the total population fell once more, by more than 50 million people, through further conflict, famine and disease; the most notable of these was the Taiping Rebellion, although the Miao an Panthay Rebellions, and the Dungan Revolt, also had large death tolls. The third plague pandemic also originated in Yunnan in 1855, which killed approximately two million people in China. 20th and 21st centuries There were additional conflicts at the turn of the 20th century, which had significant geopolitical consequences for China, but did not result in the same high levels of mortality seen previously. It was not until the overlapping Chinese Civil War (1927-1949) and Second World War (1937-1945) where the death tolls reached approximately 10 and 20 million respectively. Additionally, as China attempted to industrialize during the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962), economic and agricultural mismanagement resulted in the deaths of tens of millions (possibly as many as 55 million) in less than four years, during the Great Chinese Famine. This mortality is not observable on the given dataset, due to the rapidity of China's demographic transition over the entire period; this saw improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and infrastructure result in sweeping changes across the population. The early 2020s marked some significant milestones in China's demographics, where it was overtaken by India as the world's most populous country, and its population also went into decline. Current projections suggest that China is heading for a "demographic disaster", as its rapidly aging population is placing significant burdens on China's economy, government, and society. In stark contrast to the restrictive "one-child policy" of the past, the government has introduced a series of pro-fertility incentives for couples to have larger families, although the impact of these policies are yet to materialize. If these current projections come true, then China's population may be around half its current size by the end of the century.

1,872,048 (Persons) in 2024. All the people who reside in the country at the time of the interview, whether domestic or foreign. It includes Mexican diplomats functioning overseas and family members residing with them, those who cross the border daily to work in another country, and homeless population. Do not include foreigners who do office or diplomatic work in the country or their families. Until 1900 Quintana Roo was included in Yucatan, Baja California Sur was included in Baja California. Figures for the following census dates: October 20 (1895), October 28 (1900), October 27 (1910), November 30 (1920), May 15 (1930), March 6 (1940), June 6 (1950), June 8 (1960), January 28 (1970), June 4 (1980), March 12 (1990), November 5 (1995), February 14 (2000), 19 October (2005) and June 12 (2010).

Chart and table of Taiwan population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

9.041.395 (Persons) in 2018. All the people who reside in the country at the time of the interview, whether domestic or foreign. It includes Mexican diplomats functioning overseas and family members residing with them, those who cross the border daily to work in another country, and homeless population. Do not include foreigners who do office or diplomatic work in the country or their families. Until 1900 Quintana Roo was included in Yucatan, Baja California Sur was included in Baja California. Figures for the following census dates: October 20 (1895), October 28 (1900), October 27 (1910), November 30 (1920), May 15 (1930), March 6 (1940), June 6 (1950), June 8 (1960), January 28 (1970), June 4 (1980), March 12 (1990), November 5 (1995), February 14 (2000), 19 October (2005) and June 12 (2010).

Chart and table of Palestine population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

945.214 (Persons) in 2024. All the people who reside in the country at the time of the interview, whether domestic or foreign. It includes Mexican diplomats functioning overseas and family members residing with them, those who cross the border daily to work in another country, and homeless population. Do not include foreigners who do office or diplomatic work in the country or their families. Until 1900 Quintana Roo was included in Yucatan, Baja California Sur was included in Baja California. Figures for the following census dates: October 20 (1895), October 28 (1900), October 27 (1910), November 30 (1920), May 15 (1930), March 6 (1940), June 6 (1950), June 8 (1960), January 28 (1970), June 4 (1980), March 12 (1990), November 5 (1995), February 14 (2000), 19 October (2005) and June 12 (2010).

Chart and table of Kenya population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

Chart and table of Isle Of Man population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.