The majority of the 8 billion people worldwide are concentrated in just a handful of the world’s 195 countries.
Using data from the World Bank, 24/7 Wall St. identified the world’s 30 most populous countries. Supplemental data on population distribution, gross domestic product, GDP per capita, and total fertility rates — or the average number of children women have in their lifetime — are also from the World Bank and are for the latest available year.
Why It Matters
Many countries with large populations are global economic pillars. The United States, one of the highest-ranking countries on this list, accounts for 25% of world GDP alone. Countries with large populations can also be more of a challenge to govern, as more people mean more competing interests, greater demand for resources, and increased strain on infrastructure.
30. Spain
- Total population in 2022: 47,778,340
- Population distribution: 81.3% urban; 18.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.4 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $29,675
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.2 children per woman over lifetime
29. South Korea
- Total population in 2022: 51,628,117
- Population distribution: 81.4% urban; 18.6% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.7 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $32,423
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 0.8 children per woman over lifetime
28. Colombia
- Total population in 2022: 51,874,024
- Population distribution: 82.1% urban; 18.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $343.6 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $6,624
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime
27. Kenya
- Total population in 2022: 54,027,487
- Population distribution: 29.0% urban; 71.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $113.4 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $2,099
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.3 children per woman over lifetime
26. Myanmar
- Total population in 2022: 54,179,306
- Population distribution: 31.8% urban; 68.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $62.3 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $1,149
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.2 children per woman over lifetime
25. Italy
- Total population in 2022: 58,940,425
- Population distribution: 71.7% urban; 28.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.0 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $34,776
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime
24. South Africa
- Total population in 2022: 59,893,885
- Population distribution: 68.3% urban; 31.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $405.3 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $6,766
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.4 children per woman over lifetime
23. Tanzania
- Total population in 2022: 65,497,748
- Population distribution: 36.7% urban; 63.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $75.7 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $1,193
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.7 children per woman over lifetime
22. United Kingdom
- Total population in 2022: 66,971,395
- Population distribution: 84.4% urban; 15.6% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $3.1 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $46,125
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime
21. France
- Total population in 2022: 67,971,311
- Population distribution: 81.5% urban; 18.5% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.8 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $40,886
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.8 children per woman over lifetime
20. Thailand
- Total population in 2022: 71,697,030
- Population distribution: 52.9% urban; 47.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $495.4 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $6,910
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime
19. Germany
- Total population in 2022: 83,797,985
- Population distribution: 77.6% urban; 22.4% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $4.1 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $48,718
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime
18. Turkey
- Total population in 2022: 84,979,913
- Population distribution: 77.0% urban; 23.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $907.1 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $10,675
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.9 children per woman over lifetime
17. Iran
- Total population in 2022: 88,550,570
- Population distribution: 76.8% urban; 23.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $413.5 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $4,670
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime
16. Vietnam
- Total population in 2022: 98,186,856
- Population distribution: 38.8% urban; 61.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $408.8 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $4,164
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.9 children per woman over lifetime
15. Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Total population in 2022: 99,010,212
- Population distribution: 46.8% urban; 53.2% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $64.7 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $654
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 6.2 children per woman over lifetime
14. Egypt
- Total population in 2022: 110,990,103
- Population distribution: 43.0% urban; 57.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $476.7 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $4,295
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.9 children per woman over lifetime
13. Philippines
- Total population in 2022: 115,559,009
- Population distribution: 48.0% urban; 52.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $404.3 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $3,499
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.7 children per woman over lifetime
12. Ethiopia
- Total population in 2022: 123,379,924
- Population distribution: 22.7% urban; 77.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $126.8 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $1,028
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.2 children per woman over lifetime
11. Japan
- Total population in 2022: 125,124,989
- Population distribution: 92.0% urban; 8.0% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $4.3 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $34,017
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime
10. Mexico
- Total population in 2022: 127,504,125
- Population distribution: 81.3% urban; 18.7% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.5 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $11,497
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.8 children per woman over lifetime
9. Russia
- Total population in 2022: 144,236,933
- Population distribution: 75.1% urban; 24.9% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.2 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $15,271
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.5 children per woman over lifetime
8. Bangladesh
- Total population in 2022: 171,186,372
- Population distribution: 39.7% urban; 60.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $460.2 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $2,688
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.0 children per woman over lifetime
7. Brazil
- Total population in 2022: 215,313,498
- Population distribution: 87.6% urban; 12.4% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.9 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $8,918
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime
6. Nigeria
- Total population in 2022: 218,541,212
- Population distribution: 53.5% urban; 46.5% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $472.6 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $2,163
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 5.2 children per woman over lifetime
5. Pakistan
- Total population in 2022: 235,824,862
- Population distribution: 37.7% urban; 62.3% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $374.7 billion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $1,589
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.5 children per woman over lifetime
4. Indonesia
- Total population in 2022: 275,501,339
- Population distribution: 57.9% urban; 42.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.3 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $4,788
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.2 children per woman over lifetime
3. United States
- Total population in 2022: 333,287,557
- Population distribution: 83.1% urban; 16.9% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $25.4 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $76,330
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime
2. China
- Total population in 2022: 1,412,175,000
- Population distribution: 63.6% urban; 36.4% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $18.0 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $12,720
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.2 children per woman over lifetime
1. India
- Total population in 2022: 1,417,173,173
- Population distribution: 35.9% urban; 64.1% rural
- Gross domestic product in 2022: $3.4 trillion
- GDP per capita in 2022: $2,411
- Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.0 children per woman over lifetime
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