Top 10 Most Populous Countries in the World in 2026

Updated: 2026-08-24

India is the world's most populous country in 2026, with an estimated population of 1.477 billion and 17.8% of the world's population.

1,476,625,576 people

China ranks second with an estimated population of 1.413 billion, representing about 17.0% of the world's population.

1,412,914,089 people

The United States ranks third with about 349.0 million people and a 4.2% share of the global population.

349,035,494 people

Indonesia ranks fourth with an estimated population of 287.9 million people and a 3.5% global population share.

287,886,782 people

Pakistan ranks fifth with about 259.3 million people and an annual population growth rate of 1.6%.

259,299,791 people

Nigeria ranks sixth with about 242.4 million people and one of the fastest population growth rates among the top 10 at 2.06%.

242,431,832 people

Brazil ranks seventh with about 213.6 million people and accounts for approximately 2.6% of the world's population.

213,562,666 people

Bangladesh ranks eighth with about 177.8 million people and a population growth rate of 1.21%.

177,818,044 people

Russia ranks ninth with about 143.4 million people. Its population is projected to decline by 0.42% in 2026.

143,394,458 people

#10

Ethiopia ranks tenth with about 138.9 million people and a projected annual population growth rate of 2.53%.

138,902,185 people

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has the largest population in 2026?▼

India is the world's most populous country in 2026 with an estimated 1.477 billion people, ahead of China at 1.413 billion.

How many countries have more than 1 billion people?▼

Only India and China have populations above 1 billion in the 2026 estimates. Together they account for roughly 34.8% of the world's population.