The 15 Most Populous Countries in the World in 2026
Ranked by population in mid-2026, using the UN's World Population Prospects. India leads, China is shrinking, and Africa is growing fastest.
Quick Answer
India is the most populous country in the world in 2026, with about 1.48 billion people, according to the UN's World Population Prospects. China is second with about 1.41 billion, followed by the United States (349 million), Indonesia (288 million) and Pakistan (259 million). India and China together hold about 35% of the world's population, and the top 10 countries hold about 57%.
This ranking uses the United Nations' World Population Prospects 2024, the standard global source for population figures, which projects each country's population as of July 1, 2026. These are projections based on the UN's medium scenario, not census counts, so they can differ from national estimates. Yearly change shows how fast each population is projected to grow or shrink between 2025 and 2026.
Who's growing, and who's shrinking?
Three countries in this top 15 are projected to lose population in 2026: Japan (about −0.55%), Russia (about −0.42%) and China (about −0.22%). At the other end, the fastest growth is in Africa: DR Congo (about +3.21%), Ethiopia (about +2.53%) and Nigeria (about +2.06%). Pakistan (about +1.60%) is growing faster than any country ranked above it.
Population, mid-2026 · Millions
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024Tap any country to jump to its full breakdown below.
Ranked #15 to #1
- Population (2026):
- 116.5 million
- Category:
- Central Africa
DR Congo rounds out the top 15 with about 116 million people.
DR Congo grows about 3.21% a year, the fastest in this top 15, and is only about 1.3 million behind the Philippines.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 117.7 million
- Category:
- Southeast Asia
The Philippines has about 118 million people.
The Philippines is about 2.4 million behind Egypt.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 120.1 million
- Category:
- North Africa
Egypt has about 120 million people, the most in the Arab world.
Egypt is only about 2.3 million behind Japan, and growing about 1.47% a year.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 122.4 million
- Category:
- East Asia
Japan has about 122 million people and is shrinking about 0.55% a year, the fastest decline in this top 15.
Japan is one of three countries in this top 15 projected to shrink in 2026, alongside China and Russia.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 133.0 million
- Category:
- North America
Mexico has about 133 million people, just outside the top 10.
Mexico is about 5.9 million behind Ethiopia.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 138.9 million
- Category:
- East Africa
Ethiopia completes the top 10 with about 139 million people.
Ethiopia grows about 2.53% a year, the fastest in the top 10.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 143.4 million
- Category:
- Europe/Asia
Russia has about 143 million people, and its population is projected to shrink about 0.42% in 2026.
Russia is only about 4.5 million people ahead of Ethiopia, whose population is growing while Russia's shrinks.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 177.8 million
- Category:
- South Asia
Bangladesh has about 178 million people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Bangladesh is the third South Asian country in this top 10, after India and Pakistan.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 213.6 million
- Category:
- South America
Brazil is the most populous country in South America, with about 214 million people.
Brazil's growth has slowed to about 0.35% a year.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 242.4 million
- Category:
- West Africa
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with about 242 million people.
Nigeria grows about 2.06% a year, one of the fastest rates in this top 15.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 259.3 million
- Category:
- South Asia
Pakistan has about 259 million people and is growing about 1.6% a year, faster than any country above it.
Pakistan is about 16.9 million people ahead of Nigeria in 6th.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 287.9 million
- Category:
- Southeast Asia
Indonesia has about 288 million people, the most of any country in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia is home to more people than any other Muslim-majority country.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 349.0 million
- Category:
- North America
The United States is a distant third with about 349 million people, roughly a quarter of China's population.
The US has about 61 million more people than Indonesia in 4th.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 1,412.9 million
- Category:
- East Asia
China has about 1.41 billion people, second only to India. Its population is projected to shrink slightly in 2026.
China and India together hold about 34.8% of the world's population.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
- Population (2026):
- 1,476.6 million
- Category:
- South Asia
India is the world's most populous country, with about 1.48 billion people in 2026, according to the UN. It passed China in 2023.
India has about 63.7 million more people than China, and its population is still growing, by about 0.87% a year.
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024
What the numbers tell us
India and China together hold about 35% of the world's population. Of the top 15, Japan, Russia and China are projected to shrink in 2026, while the fastest growth is in Africa, led by DR Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
- Data period:
- Mid-2026 (July 1) projections, UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario
- Last updated:
- October 30, 2026
- Sources:
- United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, as tabulated by Worldometer and PopulationPyramids.org.
Countries are ranked by the UN's projected population on July 1, 2026, from World Population Prospects 2024 (medium scenario). Populations are rounded to one decimal place in millions. Yearly change is the projected percentage change from 2025 to 2026, and shares of world population are based on the same UN data. These are projections rather than census counts, and some countries' own statistics offices publish different estimates. Gaps between countries are calculated by Viszlyn from the UN figures and rounded.
Figures marked as estimates are based on publicly available information and may vary from other published sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
India, with about 1.48 billion people in 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects. India passed China in 2023.