For the major criteria behind the top ten most populous countries in the world, population is one of the most defining features of a nation’s identity, power, and potential. From influencing a country’s economic growth, military capacity, and political influence, to determining urban development, infrastructure needs, and social policy, population size remains a key metric in global affairs.
As of June 2025, the global population stands at over 8.23 billion people, with ten countries accounting for a significant share of this total. These demographic powerhouses are not just numbers on a chart, they can also be said to represent human dynamism, geopolitical weight, and the evolving contours of the 21st-century world.
Today, bsgistnews discusses the top ten most populous countries in the world, based on updated population data from mid-2025.
Each section provides a detailed look at the historical growth patterns, current challenges, and future projections of these countries, emphasizing how population size affects everything from economic development to environmental sustainability.
1. India
Approximately 1.438 Billion Peopleb(17.47% of the World Population)
India has officially overtaken China to become the most populous country in the world among the top ten most populous countries in the world. As of June 2025, the South Asian giant is home to approximately 1.438 billion people, constituting around 17.47% of the global population.
This milestone signifies a major demographic shift in global history, considering that China had held the top position for decades. India’s population growth has been both a source of strength and concern.
On one hand, the large and relatively young population offers immense potential for economic development, a vast domestic market, and a growing labor force.
On the other hand, the country faces mounting challenges related to urban overcrowding, resource scarcity, healthcare access, and employment generation.
Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore are under increasing pressure to provide housing, transportation, and clean air to their burgeoning populations.
Interestingly, India’s fertility rate has recently declined below the replacement level of 2.1, with the national average standing at 1.9 in 2025. While this may suggest that India is on a path toward stabilizing its population in the long term, the momentum of earlier high fertility rates means the country will continue to grow for several decades before reaching its demographic peak which will ensure its place among the top ten most populous countries in the world.
2. China
Approximately 1.417 Billion People (17.21% of the World Population)
Once the unrivaled leader in global population figures, China has now slipped to second place. With around 1.417 billion people in June 2025, the country accounts for about 17.21% of the global population. Although still an immense demographic force, China is facing long-term population decline due to years of stringent population control measures and a dramatic drop in birth rates.
The effects of China’s former one-child policy continue to reverberate across its demographic landscape. The country’s fertility rate has fallen to approximately 1.0, among the lowest in the world.
In response, the Chinese government has introduced various incentives to encourage childbirth, such as tax breaks, extended maternity leave, and housing subsidies for families with more than one child.
However, these measures have yet to produce significant change, and young Chinese couples continue to delay or forego parenthood due to financial stress, urban work culture, and lifestyle choices.
An aging population is perhaps China’s most urgent demographic issue. The country now has one of the largest elderly populations in the world, which poses a serious challenge to pension systems, healthcare infrastructure, and economic productivity.
As China’s working-age population shrinks, the country must confront difficult policy decisions regarding immigration, retirement reform, and automation.
3. United States
Approximately 340 Million People (4.13% of the World Population)
The United States is the third most populous country in the world, with an estimated 340 million residents as of June 2025. While its share of the global population is much smaller than that of India or China, the United States remains a demographic outlier among high-income nations, as it continues to experience positive population growth.
The key driver of America’s population increase is immigration. The U.S. continues to attract people from all over the world, especially from Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Immigration contributes to a more diverse, younger, and more economically active population, helping to counterbalance the country’s relatively low fertility rate, which currently hovers around 1.6.
However, the U.S. faces internal challenges as well. Political polarization over immigration policy, aging infrastructure, rising healthcare costs, and uneven economic growth across states pose obstacles to sustainable population management.
Nonetheless, the country’s demographic profile gives it a strategic advantage over other developed economies, especially as its workforce remains comparatively youthful and dynamic.
4. Indonesia
Approximately 283 Million People (3.43% of the World Population)
Indonesia ranks fourth globally, with a population of approximately 283 million people. As the largest nation in Southeast Asia and the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Indonesia plays a crucial role in regional and global affairs.
Its population growth has been driven by both high fertility rates in earlier decades and improved healthcare outcomes that have lowered mortality rates. The country has a relatively young median age, and its labor force continues to expand. This presents economic opportunities, particularly in sectors like manufacturing, services, and digital innovation.
However, Indonesia is also highly vulnerable to environmental pressures, including climate change and deforestation. Jakarta, the capital city, is sinking at an alarming rate, prompting the government to begin relocating administrative functions to a newly constructed capital, Nusantara, in Borneo.
Managing urban growth, infrastructure expansion, and sustainable development are pressing concerns for Indonesia as it heads toward becoming a major global economy.
5. Pakistan
Approximately 247 Million People (3% of the World Population)
Pakistan’s population is estimated at 247 million in mid-2025, placing it fifth among the world’s most populous nations. The country’s high fertility rate, currently at about 3.4 births per woman, continues to drive rapid population growth, particularly in rural areas where family planning access remains limited.
This growing population presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. On one hand, Pakistan has a youthful demographic profile, with more than 60% of its citizens under the age of 30. If adequately educated and employed, this youth bulge could fuel economic expansion.
On the other hand, Pakistan faces serious hurdles in the form of water scarcity, poor healthcare infrastructure, underfunded education systems, and regional instability.
Urban areas such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are expanding rapidly, but the country’s ability to absorb this growth in a sustainable way is uncertain. Government policy has begun to focus more on population planning, education reform, and social protection, but progress remains uneven.
6. Nigeria
Approximately 238 Million People (2.89% of the World Population)
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, with an estimated 238 million people in 2025. The country accounts for nearly 2.9% of the global population and is projected to become the third-most populous country by 2050 in the list of top ten most populous countries in the world, if current growth rates continue.
Nigeria’s population growth is among the fastest in the world, with a fertility rate of around 5.3 children per woman. This is driven largely by socio-cultural norms, early marriage practices, and limited access to family planning services. While the youthfulness of Nigeria’s population offers potential for future economic growth, the present reality is more sobering.
The country grapples with chronic power shortages, widespread poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Lagos and Abuja, the two largest urban centers, are struggling to keep pace with migration from rural areas. Without significant investment in education, healthcare, and job creation, Nigeria risks facing a demographic crisis rather than a dividend.
7. Brazil
Approximately 216 Million People (2.63% of the World Population)
Brazil remains the most populous country in Latin America, with a mid-2025 population of about 216 million people. Though once characterized by high birth rates, Brazil’s demographic path has experienced a radical shift in the past few decades.
The country now has a fertility rate of around 1.7, below replacement level, and its population growth has begun to flatten. This demographic transition has been driven by rising education levels, increased urbanization, and widespread access to reproductive healthcare.
Brazil faces an aging population and a shrinking labor force, similar to other middle-income nations. Economic inequality, environmental degradation in the Amazon region, and political instability remain significant challenges.
Nonetheless, Brazil’s demographic shift also creates opportunities for increased investment in technology, productivity, and social welfare reform.
8. Bangladesh
Approximately 177 Million People (2.15% of the World Population)
Bangladesh, with approximately 177 million people, ranks eighth globally despite its relatively small geographical size. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, yet it has achieved remarkable progress in human development indicators over the past three decades.
The country has successfully reduced its fertility rate to around 2.0 and dramatically improved maternal and child health outcomes. Bangladesh’s economy has also grown rapidly, driven by a booming garment industry and a resilient informal sector.
However, challenges remain. Urban centers such as Dhaka are experiencing overwhelming congestion, pollution, and strain on public services. In addition, the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and flooding, threaten millions of lives and livelihoods, especially in coastal areas.
9. Russia
Approximately 145 Million People (1.76% of the World Population)
Russia, with about 145 million people, ranks ninth on the global population chart. Unlike other countries in the top ten most populous countries in the world, Russia is experiencing sustained population decline due to low fertility rates, high mortality, and net emigration.
The population is aging rapidly, with a median age of over 40 years. The Russian government has implemented various incentives to boost birth rates, including maternal subsidies and housing support, but results have been limited.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and associated economic sanctions have also exacerbated demographic challenges, particularly in the labor market and healthcare sector.
A shrinking population affects Russia’s geopolitical influence and military recruitment, and puts pressure on its pension systems and public services. Unless reversed, this trend could lead to a significant reduction in Russia’s global clout in the coming decades.
10. Ethiopia
Approximately 135 Million People (1.65% of the World Population)
Ethiopia rounds out the top ten most populous countries in the world with a population of around 135 million. It is the second-most populous country in Africa, and like Nigeria, it is characterized by a rapidly growing and youthful population.
The country has made significant progress in reducing poverty and improving access to education and healthcare, though regional disparities persist. Ethiopia’s fertility rate remains high at around 4.1, and the government is working to expand access to reproductive health services and family planning education.
Recent internal conflicts and political unrest have tested the country’s resilience. Nevertheless, Ethiopia remains a key regional player with significant agricultural and industrial potential. The direction of its demographic future will largely depend on political stability, governance, and investment in human capital.
What’s Next for the Top Ten Most Populous Countries In The World
As the global population surpasses 8.2 billion in mid-2025, the demographic balance of power is shifting in profound and irreversible ways. India’s rise to the top of the population chart is more than symbolic, it marks a reorientation of global economic and geopolitical influence toward South Asia.
At the same time, Africa is emerging as the world’s new population frontier, with Nigeria and Ethiopia set to overtake several other countries in the list of top ten most populous countries in the world in decades to come. These shifts will carry implications for trade, migration, security, and international cooperation.
In countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, the pressing challenge will be turning a young and fast-growing population into a productive force for development. This means massive investment in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and job creation. Without it, demographic advantage could turn into demographic disaster, as youth unemployment and urban strain lead to unrest and instability.
Meanwhile, nations such as China, Russia, and Brazil must grapple with the consequences of demographic stagnation or outright decline, otherwise they might lose their place in the list of top ten most populous countries in the world.
Aging populations will require expanded healthcare services, retirement security reforms, and innovation-driven economic strategies to compensate for shrinking workforces. Fertility incentives may not be enough to reverse these trends, meaning these countries will need to reassess their social compacts and long-term planning.
The United States finds itself in a unique position. Although its population growth is modest, it continues to benefit from immigration and cultural diversity, which helps preserve a relatively young and dynamic labor force compared to other developed nations.
Whether it can harness this advantage and remain in the top ten most populous countries in the world, heavily depends on political consensus and social cohesion around immigration and inclusion.
In densely populated countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia, urbanization will dominate the next phase of demographic development. These countries must navigate the fine line between economic growth and sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change, rising sea levels, and pressure on natural resources.
Looking ahead to 2050, experts predict that several African nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, will earn a place in the top ten most populous countries in the world, further accelerating the continent’s demographic rise.
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