What are the 20 countries with the largest population

What are the 20 countries with the largest population : India is the most populated nation in the world and as of early 2026, its population is more than 1.47billion and closely behind China. The top ten nations in the world comprise the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria, and they are home to more than fifty percent of the world. Other top twenty members include Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, Mexico, Ethiopia and Japan.

The following are the top twenty most populous countries by 2026 estimates:

1. India: about 1.47 billion.
2. China: about 1.41 billion.
3. United States: about 349 million.
4. Indonesia: about 287 million.
5. Pakistan: about 245 million.
6. Nigeria: about 230million.
7. Brazil: about 218 million.
8. Bangladesh: about 175 million.
9. Russia: around 144 million.
10. Mexico: about 130 million.
11. Ethiopia: about 130 million.
12. Japan: about 122 million.
13. Philippines: about 120 million.
14. Egypt: about 116 million.
15. DR Congo: about 108 million.
16. Vietnam: about 100 million.
17. Iran: approximately 90 million
18. Turkey: about 86 million.
19. Germany: about 83,000,000.
20. Tanzania: about 70 million.

Note: These numbers are estimates and can vary a little according to the source, including Worldometer and World Population Review.

By 2026, the world population is projected to be about 8.3 billion. The twenty most populous countries based on the present day demographic estimates are listed as follows.

Top 20 Most Populous Countries (2026 Estimates)

Major Trends in the Top 20

The Big Two: India and China are the only nations whose population is above one billion though India has already pulled significantly ahead due to the declining share of China.

The African Surge: Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be found in the fast-growing category. Nigeria has been predicted to climb the ladder at a very fast pace in the next decade.

Regional Dominance: Half of the top twenty nations (ten of twenty) are located in Asia, which highlights the influence the continent has on the global demographics and economic development.

European Decadence: European countries like Germany and the United Kingdom are also among the twenty leading countries in population growth but the growth seems to occur more because of the migration, as compared to natural birth rates, which is in sharp contrast to the young population make up of South Asia and Africa.