Population estimates from the US Bureau of the Census are based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys about the recent past and assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the country’s potential impact on the world and its region.
Note: Demographic estimates for some countries (predominantly African) have explicitly considered the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic’s growing impact. These countries are currently affected mainly through HIV/AIDS: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The 20 most populated countries of the world in 2021
| Rank | Country | Population | % of the world | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,411,778,724 | 17.9% | 1 Nov 2020 | 2020 census result |
| 2 | India | 1,377,566,565 | 17.5% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 3 | United States | 331,758,026 | 4.21% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 4 | Indonesia | 271,350,000 | 3.45% | 31 Dec 2020 | National annual estimate |
| 5 | Pakistan | 225,200,000 | 2.86% | 1 Jul 2021 | UN projection |
| 6 | Brazil | 213,203,412 | 2.71% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 7 | Nigeria | 211,401,000 | 2.69% | 1 Jul 2021 | UN projection |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 170,751,718 | 2.17% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 9 | Russia | 146,171,015 | 1.86% | 1 Jan 2021 | National annual estimate |
| 10 | Mexico | 126,014,024 | 1.60% | 2 Mar 2020 | 2020 census result |
| 11 | Japan | 125,360,000 | 1.59% | 1 May 2021 | Monthly national estimate |
| 12 | Ethiopia | 117,876,000 | 1.50% | 1 Jul 2021 | UN projection |
| 13 | Philippines | 110,289,808 | 1.40% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 14 | Egypt | 101,860,517 | 1.29% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 15 | Vietnam | 97,580,000 | 1.24% | 1 Jul 2020 | National annual estimate |
| 16 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 92,378,000 | 1.17% | 1 Jul 2021 | UN projection |
| 17 | Iran | 84,485,092 | 1.07% | 30 May 2021 | National population clock |
| 18 | Turkey | 83,614,362 | 1.06% | 31 Dec 2020 | National annual estimate |
| 19 | Germany | 83,190,556 | 1.06% | 30 Sep 2020 | National quarterly estimate |
| 20 | France | 67,413,000 | 0.856% | 1 May 2021 | Monthly national estimate |