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.

Population growth (annual %) in World was reported at 0.89981 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This statistic shows the 20 countries with the highest population growth rate in 2024. In SouthSudan, the population grew by about 4.65 percent compared to the previous year, making it the country with the highest population growth rate in 2024. The global population Today, the global population amounts to around 7 billion people, i.e. the total number of living humans on Earth. More than half of the global population is living in Asia, while one quarter of the global population resides in Africa. High fertility rates in Africa and Asia, a decline in the mortality rates and an increase in the median age of the world population all contribute to the global population growth. Statistics show that the global population is subject to increase by almost 4 billion people by 2100. The global population growth is a direct result of people living longer because of better living conditions and a healthier nutrition. Three out of five of the most populous countries in the world are located in Asia. Ultimately the highest population growth rate is also found there, the country with the highest population growth rate is Syria. This could be due to a low infant mortality rate in Syria or the ever -expanding tourism sector.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPPOPGROWMNA) from 1961 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, population, and rate.

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. As of 2025, the country counted over 237.5 million individuals, whereas Ethiopia, which ranked second, has around 135.5 million inhabitants. Egypt registered the largest population in North Africa, reaching nearly 118.4 million people. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Nigeria only ranked seventh, while Mauritius had the highest population density on the whole African continent in 2023. The fastest-growing world region Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. Nevertheless, Africa records the highest growth rate worldwide, with figures rising by over two percent every year. In some countries, such as Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad, the population increase peaks at over three percent. With so many births, Africa is also the youngest continent in the world. However, this coincides with a low life expectancy. African cities on the rise The last decades have seen high urbanization rates in Asia, mainly in China and India. However, African cities are currently growing at larger rates. Indeed, most of the fastest-growing cities in the world are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gwagwalada, in Nigeria, and Kabinda, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked first worldwide. By 2035, instead, Africa's fastest-growing cities are forecast to be Bujumbura, in Burundi, and Zinder, Nigeria.

Published in The Anthropocene Review. Abstract: Enormous growth of the world population during the last two centuries and its present slowing down pose questions about precedents in history and broader forces shaping the population size. Population estimates collected in an extensive survey of literature (873 estimates from 25 studies covering 1,000,000 BCE to 2100 CE) show that world population growth has proceeded in two distinct phases of acceleration followed by stoppage—from at least 25,000 BCE to 100 BCE, and from 400 CE to the present, interrupted by centuries of standstill and 10% decrease. Both phases can be fitted with a mathematical function that projects to a peak at 11.2 ± 1.5 billion around 2100 CE. An interaction model can account for this acceleration-stoppage pattern in quantitative detail: Technology grows exponentially, with rate boosted by population. Population grows exponentially, capped by Earth’s carrying capacity. Technology raises this cap, but only until it approaches Earth’s ultimate carrying capacity.

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for the Arab World (SPPOPGROWARB) from 1961 to 2023 about Arab World, population, and rate.

U.S. population growth rate for 2023 was 0.49%, a 0.12% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>U.S. population growth rate for 2022 was <strong>0.37%</strong>, a <strong>0.21% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>U.S. population growth rate for 2021 was <strong>0.16%</strong>, a <strong>0.81% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>U.S. population growth rate for 2020 was <strong>0.97%</strong>, a <strong>0.51% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

Poland PL: Population: Growth data was reported at 0.015 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.043 % for 2016. Poland PL: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.363 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.336 % in 1960 and a record low of -1.044 % in 2000. Poland PL: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

United States - Population Growth for World was 0.89981 % Chg. at Annual Rate in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Population Growth for World reached a record high of 2.13312 in January of 1971 and a record low of 0.82796 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Population Growth for World - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Until the 1800s, population growth was incredibly slow on a global level. The global population was estimated to have been around 188 million people in the year 1CE, and did not reach one billion until around 1803. However, since the 1800s, a phenomenon known as the demographic transition has seen population growth skyrocket, reaching eight billion people in 2023, and this is expected to peak at over 10 billion in the 2080s.

Author: S Wicklund, educator, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic EducationGrade/Audience: high schoolResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, mapsRegion: worldStandards: Minnesota Social Studies Standards

Standard 1. People use geographic representations and geospatial technologies to acquire, process and report information within a spatial context.

Standard 3. Places have physical characteristics (such as climate, topography and vegetation) and human characteristics (such as culture, population, political and economic systems).

Standard 5. The characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations on the earth’s surface influence human systems (cultural, economic and political systems).Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Use maps of population distribution to examine the history of world population growth.
2. Construct a dot map to show current world population distribution.
3. Describe the difference between arithmetic and physiological densities.
4. Craft a response to a prompt to evaluate the Negative Population Growth perspective. Summary: Students will use maps of population distribution to examine the history of world population growth. They will also examine current world population distribution. Students will role-play the difference between arithmetic and physiologic densities using Egypt as an example. They will then craft a response to a prompt where they evaluate the Negative Population Growth perspective.

Population growth (annual %) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 1.811 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Total current population for the world in 2025 is 8,191,988,453, a 0.9% increase from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Total population for the world in 2024 was <strong>8,118,835,999</strong>, a <strong>0.71% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Total population for the world in 2023 was <strong>8,061,876,001</strong>, a <strong>0.9% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Total population for the world in 2022 was <strong>7,989,981,520</strong>, a <strong>0.87% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.

Population growth (annual %) in Germany was reported at --0.62005 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Germany - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The dataset contain the most recent demographic data, which will help us understand, analyze, and forecast the future. The following representations include world population from 2020 to 2023, life expectancy in 2023, and annual population totals from 1960 to 2023.

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Rural population growth (annual %) in World was reported at --0.11846 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Rural population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population growth (annual %) in United States was reported at 0.49192 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

ABOUT

The Global Population Growth Dataset provides a comprehensive record of population trends across various countries over multiple decades. It includes detailed information such as the country name, ISO3 country code, year-wise population data, population growth, and growth rate. This dataset is valuable for researchers, demographers, policymakers, and data analysts interested in studying population dynamics, demographic trends, and economic development.

Key features of the dataset:

✅ Covers multiple countries and regions worldwide
✅ Includes historical and recent population data
✅ Provides year-wise population growth and growth rate (%)
✅ Categorizes data by country and decade for better trend analysis

This dataset serves as a crucial resource for analyzing global population trends, understanding demographic shifts, and supporting socio-economic research and policy-making.

FILE INFORMATION

The dataset consists of structured records related to country-wise population data, compiled from official sources. Each file contains information on yearly population figures, growth trends, and country-specific data. The structured format makes it useful for researchers, economists, and data scientists studying demographic patterns and changes. The file type is CSV.

COLUMNS DESCRIPTION

• Country – The name of the country.
• ISO3 – The three-letter ISO code of the country.
• Year – The year corresponding to the population data, useful for trend analysis.
• Population – The total population of the country for the given year.
• Population Growth – The absolute increase in population compared to the previous year.
• Growth Rate (%) – The percentage change in population compared to the previous year.
• Decade – The decade classification (e.g., 1990s, 2000s) for grouping long-term trends.

Population growth (annual %) in Japan was reported at --0.48737 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.