The statistic shows the development of the world population from 1950 to 2050. The world population was around 7.38 billion people in 2015.

The global population

As shown above, the total number of people living on Earth has more than doubled since the 1950s, and continues to increase. A look at the development of the world population since the beginning of the Common Era shows that such a surge in numbers is unprecedented. The first significant rise in population occurred during the 14th century, after the Black Death had killed approximately 25 million people worldwide. Subsequently, the global population increased slowly but steadily until it reached record numbers between 1950 and 2000.

The majority of the global population lives on the Asian continent, as a statistic of the world population by continent shows. In around 100 years, it is estimated that population levels on the African continent will have reached similar levels to those we see in Asia today. As for a forecast of the development of the world population, the figures are estimated to have reached more than 10 billion by the 22nd century.

Growing population numbers pose an increasing risk to the planet, since rocketing numbers equal increased consumption of food and resources. Scientists worry that natural resources, such as oil, and food resources will become scarce, endangering the human race and, even more so, the world’s ecosystem. Nowadays, the number of undernourished / starving people worldwide has decreased slightly, but forecasts paint a darker picture.

Description to be added

Developed for the U. S. Department of Defense. Allows for quick and easy assessment, estimation, and visualization of populations-at-risk.

The Gridded Population of the World, Version 3 (GPWv3): Population Count Grid, Future Estimates consists of estimates of human population for the years 2005, 2010, and 2015 by 2.5 arc-minute grid cells and associated data sets dated circa 2000. A proportional allocation gridding algorithm, utilizing more than 300,000 national and sub-national administrative units, is used to assign population values to grid cells. The population counts that the grids are derived from are extrapolated based on a combination of subnational growth rates from census dates and national growth rates from United Nations statistics. All of the grids have been adjusted to match United Nations national level population estimates. The population count grids contain estimates of the number of persons per grid cell. The grids are available in various GIS-compatible data formats and geographic extents (global, continent [Antarctica not included], and country levels). GPWv3 is produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) in collaboration with Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). To provide a time series of raster data on population projected to the year 2015 to facilitate data integration.

The Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4): Population Density, Revision 11 consists of estimates of human population density (number of persons per square kilometer) based on counts consistent with national censuses and population registers, for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.�A proportional allocation gridding algorithm, utilizing approximately 13.5 million national and sub-national administrative Units, was used to assign population counts to 30 arc-second grid cells. The population density rasters were created by dividing the population count raster for a given target year by the land area raster. The data files were produced as global rasters at 30 arc-second (~1 km at the equator) resolution. To enable faster global processing, and in support of research commUnities, the 30 arc-second count data were aggregated to 2.5 arc-minute, 15 arc-minute, 30 arc-minute and 1 degree resolutions to produce density rasters at these resolutions.

As of 2024, the estimated number of internet users worldwide was 5.5 billion, up from 5.3 billion in the previous year. This share represents 68 percent of the global population. Internet access around the world Easier access to computers, the modernization of countries worldwide, and increased utilization of smartphones have allowed people to use the internet more frequently and conveniently. However, internet penetration often pertains to the current state of development regarding communications networks. As of January 2023, there were approximately 1.05 billion total internet users in China and 692 million total internet users in the United States. Online activities Social networking is one of the most popular online activities worldwide, and Facebook is the most popular online network based on active usage. As of the fourth quarter of 2023, there were over 3.07 billion monthly active Facebook users, accounting for well more than half of the internet users worldwide. Connecting with family and friends, expressing opinions, entertainment, and online shopping are amongst the most popular reasons for internet usage.

The Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4): Population Density, Revision 11 consists of estimates of human population density (number of persons per square kilometer) based on counts consistent with national censuses and population registers, for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. A proportional allocation gridding algorithm, utilizing approximately 13.5 million national and sub-national administrative units, was used to assign population counts to 30 arc-second grid cells. The population density rasters were created by dividing the population count raster for a given target year by the land area raster. The data files were produced as global rasters at 30 arc-second (~1 km at the equator) resolution. To enable faster global processing, and in support of research communities, the 30 arc-second count data were aggregated to 2.5 arc-minute, 15 arc-minute, 30 arc-minute and 1 degree resolutions to produce density rasters at these resolutions. To provide estimates of population density for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, based on counts consistent with national censuses and population registers, as raster data to facilitate data integration.

Over the past 23 years, there were constantly more men than women living on the planet. Of the 8.06 billion people living on the Earth in 2023, 4.05 billion were men and 4.01 billion were women. One-quarter of the world's total population in 2024 was below 15 years.

Population ages 65 and above, total in World was reported at 830549946 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Total Population for Age 65 and above (only 2005 and 2010) (in number of people) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Human population density in 2000, by terrestrial ecoregion.

We summarized human population density by ecoregion using the Gridded Population of the World database and projections for 2015 (CIESIN et al. 2005). The mean for each ecoregion was extracted using a zonal statistics algorithm.

These data were derived by The Nature Conservancy, and were displayed in a map published in The Atlas of Global Conservation (Hoekstra et al., University of California Press, 2010). More information at http://nature.org/atlas.

Data derived from:

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3). Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University Palisades, New York. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. Digital media.

United Nations Population Division (UNPD). 2007. Global population, largest urban agglomerations and cities of largest change. World Urbanization Prospects: The 2007 Revision Population Database. Available at http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp.

For more about The Atlas of Global Conservation check out the web map (which includes links to download spatial data and view metadata) at http://maps.tnc.org/globalmaps.html. You can also read more detail about the Atlas at http://www.nature.org/science-in-action/leading-with-science/conservation-atlas.xml, or buy the book at http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520262560

The map data is derived from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for 1960 to 2005. The map shows the concentration of the total percent of the total population that is considered urban population within each country. "Total population residing in urban areas. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. National definitions are most commonly based on size of locality. Population which is not urban is considered rural." Online resource: http://geodata.grid.unep.ch URL original source: http://www.un.org/esa/population/unpop.htm

The Gridded Population of the World, Version 3 (GPWv3): Centroids consists of estimates of human population counts and densities for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 by administrative Unit centroid _location. The centroids are based on the 399,781 input administrative Units used in GPWv3. In addition to population counts and variables, the centroids have associated administrative Unit names and the land area of contained within the administrative Unit. GPWv3 is produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) in collaboration with Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT).

The Global Human Footprint Dataset of the Last of the Wild Project, Version 2, 2005 (LWP-2) is the Human Influence Index (HII) normalized by biome. The HII is a global dataset of 1-kilometer grid cells, created from nine global data layers covering human population pressure (population density), human land use and infrastructure (built-up areas, nighttime lights, land use/land cover), and human access (coastlines, roads, railroads, navigable rivers). The dataset in Interrupted Goode Homolosine Projection (IGHP) is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

The FGGD estimated 2015 global population density map is a global raster datalayer with a resolution of 2.5 arc-minutes. Each pixel contains an estimated value for persons per square kilometre in 2015, obtained by applying population growth trends to population counts for the lowest subnational administrative unit for which 2000 population data were available. The method used by FAO and CIESIN to generate this datalayer is described in FAO, 2005, Mapping global urban and rural population distributions, by M. Salvatore, et. al.

The map data is derived from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005. The map shows the concentration of the population within 100 kilometers of coast by country measured in thousands of people. Online resource: http://geodata.grid.unep.ch URL original source: http://geodata.grid.unep.ch

The Global Human Influence Index Dataset of the Last of the Wild Project, Version 2, 2005 (LWP-2) is a global dataset of 1-kilometer grid cells, created from nine global data layers covering human population pressure (population density), human land use and infrastructure (built-up areas, nighttime lights, land use/land cover), and human access (coastlines, roads, railroads, navigable rivers). The dataset in Interrupted Goode Homolosine Projection (IGHP) is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

As of 2023, 65 percent of the population in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) used the internet, compared to 35 percent of individuals living in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) while the internet penetration rate for those living in Landlocked Developing Counties (LLDCs) was at 39 percent. The global online access rate was 68 percent.

The Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4): Administrative Unit Center Points with Population Estimates consists of UN-adjusted estimates of human population counts and densities for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 by administrative unit center point (centroid) location. Specifically, the population data were adjusted to the 2015 Revision of UN World Population Prospects. The center points are based on approximately 12.5 million input administrative units used in GPWv4. Additionally, the administrative unit names, unit areas, and data context of the units are included.

Spain ES: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 14.687 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.778 % for 2016. Spain ES: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 21.063 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.114 % in 1970 and a record low of 14.298 % in 2005. Spain ES: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Colombia: Percent of world population: The latest value from 2023 is 0.65 percent, unchanged from 0.65 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.51 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Colombia from 1960 to 2023 is 0.61 percent. The minimum value, 0.52 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 0.65 percent was recorded in 2005.