World Population Day 2024: The Top 10 Most Populated Countries In 2024 — Is China Or India Number One?

World Population Day 2024 brings attention to the world's most populous countries, highlighting significant demographic shifts and projections for the future. The global population has seen extraordinary growth over recent centuries, surpassing 7 billion in 2011 and projected to reach approximately 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050, and 10.9 billion by 2100, according to UN estimates.

India, with an estimated population of 1.4286 billion, has overtaken China as the world's most populous nation, according to the UNFPA's 2023 State of the World Population Report. This shift reflects demographic trends influenced by factors such as life expectancy, fertility rates, urbanization, and migration patterns. China, experiencing a decrease in population due to more deaths than births, faces demographic challenges that contrast with India's growth trajectory.

Experts predict that India's population, growing at just under one percent annually, could double in the next 75 years, driven by momentum from previous decades. However, both India's and the global population are expected to stabilize before reaching peak growth rates.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated World Population Day in 1987 to raise awareness about global demographic issues. Celebrated annually on July 11th since 1990, this day underscores the importance of data-driven solutions to address population-related challenges, promote gender equality, ensure maternal health, and uphold human rights.

Here are the top ten most populous countries in the world as of 2024:

Source: World Population Review

On World Population Day 2024, falling on a Thursday, the focus will be on "Investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress," emphasizing the role of accurate information in addressing global population dynamics and fostering sustainable development.

With the global population surpassing 8 billion in mid-November 2022, significant increases from previous decades underscore the challenges and opportunities presented by demographic shifts. China and India remain the world's most populous countries, collectively comprising nearly 18% of the global population, with projections indicating continued growth towards 9.7 billion by 2050 and potentially reaching nearly 10.4 billion by the mid-2080s, reflecting nearly a 2 billion increase over the next three decades.