Most Populous Countries

Sovereign states ranked by most recent population estimate.

Last updated . Source: Wikidata.

As of 2026-04-29, India tops the list with 1,477,519,529.

  1. #1 India — 1,477,519,529

    country in South Asia

    India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in 1947, the world's most populous democracy. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  2. #2 People's Republic of China — 1,442,965,000

    country in East Asia

    China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the second-most populous country after India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, representing 17% of the world's population. China borders fourteen countries by land across an area of 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), making it the third-largest country by area. The country is divided into 33 province-level divisions: 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  3. #3 United States — 340,110,988

    country located primarily in North America

    The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous states border Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the semi-exclave of Alaska in the northwest and the archipelago of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The United States also asserts sovereignty over five major island territories and... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  4. #4 Indonesia — 275,439,000

    island country in Southeast Asia and Oceania

    Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Comprising over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and the 14th-largest country by area, at 1,904,569 square kilometres. Indonesia has significant areas of wilderness that support one of the world's highest levels of biodiversity. It shares land borders with... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  5. #5 Pakistan — 223,773,700

    sovereign state in South Asia

    Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. Islamabad is the nation's capital, while Karachi is its largest city and financial centre. Pakistan is the 33rd-largest country by area. Bounded by the Arabian Sea on the south, the Gulf of Oman on the southwest, and the Sir Creek on the southeast, it shares land borders with... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  6. #6 Brazil — 213,421,037

    country in South America

    Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is also the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh-largest by population, with over 213 million people. Brazil is a federation composed of 26 states and a Federal District, which hosts the capital, Brasília. Its most populous city is São Paulo, followed by Rio de Janeiro. Brazil has the most Portuguese speakers in the world and is the only country in the Americas where Portuguese... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  7. #7 Nigeria — 211,400,708

    sovereign state in West Africa

    Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country. Nigeria borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Nigeria is a federal republic... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  8. #8 Bangladesh — 171,466,990

    country in South Asia

    Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world and among the most densely populated with a population of over 174 million within an area of 148,460 square kilometres (57,320 sq mi). Bangladesh shares land borders with India to the north, west, and east, and Myanmar to the southeast. It has a coastline along the Bay of Bengal to its south and is separated from Bhutan and Nepal by the Siliguri Corridor,... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  9. #9 Russia — 146,119,928

    country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia

    Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, spanning eleven time zones and sharing land borders with fourteen countries. With a population of over 140 million, Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous in the world. It is a highly urbanised country, with sixteen of its urban areas having more than 1 million inhabitants. Moscow, the most populous metropolitan area in Europe, is the... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata
  10. #10 Mexico — 132,274,416

    country in North America

    Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America and borders the United States of America to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundaries with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Mexico covers 1,972,550 km2, and is the thirteenth-largest country in the world by land area. With a population exceeding 130 million,... Read more on Wikipedia.

    Wikidata