According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2017) the total population of the world is 7,441,067,942 as of 16th December 2017. It is interesting that more than half of the population of the world come from just 10 countries. So, let’s explore those top 10 largest countries in the world by population.
Top 10 largest countries in the world by population
- China: 1,379,302,771
- India: 1,281,935,911
- United States: 326,625,791
- Indonesia: 260,580,739
- Brazil: 207,353,391
- Pakistan: 204,924,861
- Nigeria: 190,632,261
- Bangladesh: 157,826,578
- Russia: 142,257,519
- Japan: 126,451,398
As you can see China is number 1 with a total population of about 1.379 billion. India is in the second place with a total population of approximately 1.281 billion. While Russia is the largest country in the world by land area, it is number 9 by population. The United States holds the 3rd position both in terms of area and population.
Bangladesh is number 8 with a total population of approximately 157 million. The country has in fact a rapidly growing economy. A very good number of European and American companies have outsourced business activities in Bangladesh. Pakistan and Nigeria are in the 6th and 7th positions respectively. While both Pakistan and Nigeria are facing some geopolitical challenges, they are two emerging economies with a lot of potential. Pakistan is also the former world champion in cricket.
There is a debate as to which country is number 10 in the world. Well, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2017) Japan is ranked as the 10th most populated country in the world. However, other sources consider Mexico the number 10 with a total population of approximately 130 million.
Certainly, a high population sometimes causes problems such as environmental pollution, unstable economy, and low standards of living. However, it does not mean that all the countries will face the same problems. For instance, while China is facing environmental challenges due to a high population and mammoth manufacturing industries, the country has growing demands for more babies and the flow of immigrants as the current population is growing older. Similarly, Japan needs immigrants to boost population and economy as the population is expected to fall below 100 million by 2048 (Sieg & Sheldrick, 2015).
We hope this mini article has helped you quickly explore the top 10 largest countries in the world by population. You may also like reading 10 largest countries in the world by area. If you liked this article, please share it by clicking on the icons below.
The article publication date: 17 December 2017
U.S. Census Bureau (2017) U.S. Census Bureau Current Population, available at https://www.census.gov/popclock/print.php?component=counter (Accessed 16 December 2017)
Sieg, L. & Sheldrick, A. (2015) Japan needs immigrants to boost population or could lose to China: minister, available at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-immigration/japan-needs-immigrants-to-boost-population-or-could-lose-to-china-minister-idUSKBN0TT0U120151210 (Accessed 10 December 2017)
Photo credit: Pixabay
Author: Joe David
Joe David has years of teaching experience both in the UK and abroad. He writes regularly online on a variety of topics. He has a keen interest in business, hospitality, and tourism management. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management.