Ranks the world's sovereign countries by total resident population, showing which nations have the largest number of people.
Fact-ranked — the numbers decide the order, not votes
What counts: Countries ranked by total national population based on 2024 UN/official demographic estimates, including all residents regardless of citizenship status.
India
The world's most populous country as of 2023, surpassing China.
Population: 1,441,719,852 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: New Delhi
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankings
Long the most populous nation, now second after India's rise.
Population: 1,425,178,782 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Beijing
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsChina
United States
The most populous country in the Americas.
Population: 341,814,420 peopleContinent: North AmericaCapital: Washington, D.C.
added by Yourlist Editorialin 10 rankings
Southeast Asia's largest nation by population.
Population: 283,487,931 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Jakarta
added by Yourlist Editorialin 5 rankingsIndonesian
Pakistan
One of the fastest-growing large populations in South Asia.
Population: 251,269,164 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Islamabad
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankings
Africa's most populous country, driving continental growth.
Population: 232,679,478 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Abuja
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsNigeria
Brazil
South America's largest nation by population.
Population: 216,422,446 peopleContinent: South AmericaCapital: Brasília
added by Yourlist Editorialin 7 rankings
One of the most densely populated large countries.
Population: 173,562,364 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Dhaka
added by Yourlist EditorialBangladesh
Russia
The largest country by area, with a population concentrated west of the Urals.
Population: 144,820,423 peopleContinent: Europe/AsiaCapital: Moscow
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankings
The most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.
Population: 130,861,007 peopleContinent: North AmericaCapital: Mexico City
added by Yourlist Editorialin 6 rankingsMexico
Japan
East Asia's population is shrinking but remains among the world's largest.
Population: 123,201,945 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Tokyo
added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankings
A rapidly growing archipelago nation in Southeast Asia.
Population: 117,337,368 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Manila
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsPhilippines
North Africa's most populous country, centered along the Nile.
Population: 116,538,258 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Cairo
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsEgypt
Central Africa's largest nation by population.
Population: 109,276,265 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Kinshasa
added by Yourlist EditorialDemocratic Republic of the Congo
A densely populated Southeast Asian nation with steady growth.
Population: 99,186,568 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Hanoi
added by Yourlist Editorialin 5 rankingsVietnam
The Middle East's most populous country.
Population: 91,567,738 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Tehran
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsIran
Turkey
A transcontinental nation spanning Europe and Asia.
Population: 85,816,199 peopleContinent: Europe/AsiaCapital: Ankara
added by Yourlist Editorialin 5 rankings
The European Union's most populous member state.
Population: 84,552,242 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Berlin
added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankingsGermany
A major Southeast Asian economy with a large population.
Population: 71,801,279 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Bangkok
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsThailand
One of the most populous countries in Western Europe.
Population: 68,350,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: London
added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankingsUnited Kingdom
Western Europe's second most populous country.
Population: 66,548,530 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Paris
added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankingsFrance
The most populous country in Southern Africa.
Population: 60,414,495 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Pretoria
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsSouth Africa
A major Southern European nation with a declining birth rate.
Population: 58,870,762 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Rome
added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankingsItaly
East African nation known for its wildlife safaris and long-distance running heritage.
Population: 55,864,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Nairobi
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsKenya
Colombia
South American nation known for its coffee, biodiversity, and vibrant culture.
Population: 52,215,000 peopleContinent: South AmericaCapital: Bogotá
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankings
East Asian technology and cultural powerhouse on the Korean Peninsula.
Population: 51,784,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Seoul
added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankingsRepublic of Korea
Southwestern European nation known for its history, culture, and Mediterranean coastline.
Population: 47,519,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Madrid
added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankingsSpain
Second-largest country in South America, known for tango, beef, and vast landscapes.
Population: 45,892,000 peopleContinent: South AmericaCapital: Buenos Aires
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsArgentina
Landlocked Central/South Asian country known for its rugged mountainous terrain.
Population: 42,647,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Kabul
added by Yourlist EditorialAfghanistan
Canada
Second-largest country in the world by area, spanning North America.
Population: 39,742,000 peopleContinent: North AmericaCapital: Ottawa
added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankings
Poland
Central European nation known for its historic cities and resilient culture.
Population: 38,000,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Warsaw
added by Yourlist Editorialin 5 rankings
Morocco
North African kingdom known for its diverse landscapes and rich history.
Population: 37,984,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Rabat
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankings
Angola
Southern African nation with vast oil reserves and a long Atlantic coastline.
Population: 37,885,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Luanda
added by Yourlist Editorial
Largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, home to Islam's two holiest cities.
Population: 36,947,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Riyadh
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsSaudi Arabian
Central Asian nation known for its Silk Road cities and heritage.
Population: 36,753,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Tashkent
added by Yourlist EditorialUzbekistan
Southeast Asian country known for its multicultural society and rainforests.
Population: 34,564,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Kuala Lumpur
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsMalaysia
South American country home to the Andes and the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu.
Population: 34,353,000 peopleContinent: South AmericaCapital: Lima
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsPeru
Southeastern African nation with a long Indian Ocean coastline.
Population: 33,897,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Maputo
added by Yourlist EditorialMozambique
South Asian nation home to Mount Everest and the Himalayas.
Population: 30,547,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Kathmandu
added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsNepal
West African nation and leading global producer of cocoa.
Population: 29,865,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Yamoussoukro
added by Yourlist EditorialIvory Coast
Venezuela
South American country with vast oil reserves and Caribbean coastline.
Population: 28,838,000 peopleContinent: South AmericaCapital: Caracas
added by Yourlist Editorial
East Asian state on the northern Korean Peninsula under single-party rule.
Population: 26,160,822 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Pyongyang
added by Yourlist EditorialNorth Koreans
Landlocked West African country known for its Sahelian landscapes.
Population: 23,251,485 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Ouagadougou
added by Yourlist EditorialBurkina Faso
Island nation in South Asia known for tea plantations and coastal scenery.
Population: 21,955,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsSri Lanka
Vast Central Asian nation spanning steppe, desert, and mountain terrain.
Population: 20,592,571 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Astana
added by Yourlist EditorialKazakhstan
Low-lying Western European country known for canals, tulips, and windmills.
Population: 18,228,742 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Amsterdam
added by Yourlist Editorialin 10 rankingsNetherlands
Guatemala
Central American country with a rich Maya heritage and volcanic landscapes.
Population: 18,092,026 peopleContinent: North AmericaCapital: Guatemala City
added by Yourlist Editorial
Westernmost country in mainland Africa, known for its coastline and music culture.
Population: 18,077,893 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Dakar
added by Yourlist EditorialSenegalese
Tunisia
North African country on the Mediterranean coast, birthplace of the Arab Spring.
Population: 12,356,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Tunis
added by Yourlist Editorial
Landlocked East African nation and the world's youngest sovereign state.
Population: 11,088,796 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Juba
added by Yourlist EditorialSouth Sudan
A mountainous Central Asian country, ranking 77th by population.
Population: 10,458,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Dushanbe
added by Yourlist EditorialTajikistan
An Oceanian nation known for immense linguistic diversity, ranking 78th by population.
Population: 10,329,000 peopleContinent: OceaniaCapital: Port Moresby
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsPapua New Guinea
A Gulf federation of seven emirates, ranking 79th by population.
Population: 10,209,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Abu Dhabi
added by Yourlist EditorialThe United Arab Emirates
A Middle Eastern nation on the eastern Mediterranean coast, ranking 80th by population.
Population: 9,900,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Jerusalem
added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsIsrael
A Central European alpine country, ranking 81st by population.
Population: 9,200,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Vienna
added by Yourlist Editorialin 7 rankingsAustria
Switzerland
A landlocked alpine nation famed for neutrality and banking, ranking 83rd by population.
Population: 8,900,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Bern
added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankings
A West African nation on the Atlantic coast, ranking 85th by population.
Population: 8,791,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Freetown
added by Yourlist EditorialSierra Leone
A mountainous Central Asian republic, ranking 87th by population.
Population: 7,100,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Bishkek
added by Yourlist EditorialKyrgyzstan
A Central Asian nation bordering the Caspian Sea, ranking 92nd by population.
Population: 6,500,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Ashgabat
added by Yourlist EditorialTurkmenistan
A Southeastern European nation on the Black Sea, ranking 93rd by population.
Population: 6,440,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Sofia
added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsBulgaria
El Salvador
The smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, ranking 94th by population.
Population: 6,340,000 peopleContinent: North AmericaCapital: San Salvador
added by Yourlist Editorial
Denmark
A Scandinavian nation known for its coastline and welfare model, ranking 95th by population.
Population: 5,950,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Copenhagen
added by Yourlist Editorialin 8 rankings
Singapore
A highly urbanized island city-state in Southeast Asia, ranking 96th by population.
Population: 5,900,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Singapore
added by Yourlist Editorialin 14 rankings
A Nordic nation known for its thousands of lakes, ranking 97th by population.
Population: 5,600,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Helsinki
added by Yourlist Editorialin 7 rankingsFinland
A landlocked nation in the heart of Africa, ranking 98th by population.
Population: 5,590,000 peopleContinent: AfricaCapital: Bangui
added by Yourlist EditorialCentral African Republic
Norway
A Scandinavian nation with extensive coastline and fjords, ranking 99th by population.
Population: 5,550,000 peopleContinent: EuropeCapital: Oslo
added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankings
Lebanon
An Eastern Mediterranean nation known for its historic cities, ranking 100th by population.
Population: 5,500,000 peopleContinent: AsiaCapital: Beirut
added by Yourlist Editorial
