How many people in the world for a year. How many people can the planet Earth be able to withstand? India and China are the leaders of the "demographic race"

The world population is over 7 billion people. According toThe United States Census Bureau surpasses 7 billion on March 12, 2012. According to UN data, the world's population reached 7 billion on October 31, 2011. In June 2013, the UN estimated the world's population at about 7.2 billion people. World population - the total number of people living on Earth.Selective translation (Wikipedia article, internal ss links omitted). The population of the Earth has been growing steadily since the end of the Great Famine of 1315-1317 and the Black Death (plague epidemics) in the 1350s, when the population was about 370 million. The highest population growth rates (above 1.8% per year) were observed for a short time in the 1950s, and for a longer period, during the 1960s and 1970s. The growth rate peaked at 2.2% in 1963, then declined to below 1.1% by 2012. The total annual births peaked at the end of 1980 at about 138 million, and currently remains largely at a constant level, in 2011 at 134 million, while the death rate was 56 million per year, and is expected to be will grow to 80 million per year by 2040.

Current UN projections show a further increase in population in the near future (with a steady decline in population growth), the world's population will be from 8.3 billion to 10.9 billion by 2050. Some analysts question the sustainability of further global population growth, noting growing pressure on the environment, global food and energy supplies.

Earth population by region

Six of the seven continents of the Earthconstantly inhabited in large numbers. Asia is the most populated continent, with 4.2 billion inhabitants - over 60% of the world's population. The population of the two most populous countries in the world - China and India together makes up about 37% of the world's population. Africa is the second most populous continent, with about 1 billion people, or 15% of the world's population. Europe with a population of 733 million people makes up 11% of the world's population, while in Latin America and Caribbean the region is home to about 600 million (9%). VNorth Americamainly inUnited States and Canada is home to about 352 million (5%), and Oceania - the least populated region, has about 35 million inhabitants (0.5%).

Population in the countries of the world in our time

During the European agricultural and industrial revolutions, the life expectancy of children increased dramatically. From 1700 to 1900, the population of Europe increased from 100 million to 400 million. In general, in 1900, 36% of the world's population lived in Europe.
Population growth in Western countries accelerated after the introduction of mandatory vaccinations and improvements in medicine and sanitation. After a qualitative change in living conditions and an improvement in the quality of health care during the 19th century, the population of Great Britain began to double every fifty years. by 1801, population of Englandgrew to 8.3 million, and by 1901 it reached 30.5 million, the population of the United Kingdom reached 60 million in 2006.In the United States, the population will increase from 5.3 million in 1800 to 106 million in 1920, and surpass 307 million in 2010.
First half of the 20th century in Of Russia and the Soviet Union was marked by a series of wars, famines and other disasters, each of which was accompanied by large-scale population losses. Stephen J. Lee believes that by the end of World War II in 1945, Russia's population was 90 million less than it could have been. Russia's population has declined significantly in recent decades, from 148 million in 1991 to 143 million in 2012, but as of 2013 this decline appears to have stalled.
Many countries in the developing world have experienced rapid population growth over the past century. China's population has grown from about 430 million in 1850 to 580 million in 1953 and is now over 1.3 billion. The population of the Indian subcontinent, which was about 125 million in 1750, reached 389 million in 1941. Today, India and the surrounding countries are home to about 1.6 billion people. Java's population increased from five million in 1815 to over 130 million at the beginning of the 21st century. Mexico's population grew from 13.6 million in 1900 to 112 million in 2010. During the 1920s and 2000s, Kenya's population grew from 2.9 million to 37 million.

Cities ("urban areas") with at least one million inhabitants in 2006. Only 3% of the world's population lived in cities in 1800, this proportion increased to 47% by 2000 and stood at 50.5% in 2010. By 2050, the share may reach 70%.Image source,

This article lists the top 10 countries by population. In addition, you will learn about the features of the demographic policy of the most populous countries in the world - India and China.

TOP 10 countries by population

The number of inhabitants of our planet has already exceeded seven billion. One of the main features of the earth's population is a significant unevenness in its concentration. So, in one state there can be tens (and even hundreds!) Times more inhabitants than in a neighboring one.

The top 10 countries by population are listed below (colored shading on the map). In the table, in addition to the total number of residents in these states, density indicators are also presented.

The table shows demographic data as of 2016. The total population of the 10 largest countries is 4.3 billion people (almost 60% of the total population of the Earth).

Curiously, such an arrangement of "demographic leaders" will be irrelevant in a few decades. So, by 2030, India will overtake China in terms of population. Even greater changes are expected by the beginning of the next century. In 2100, according to analysts' forecasts, Nigeria will occupy the third position of this rating, but Russia will no longer be in the top ten countries.

India and China are the leaders of the "demographic race"

The Chinese is significantly different from the analogous Indian, which is reflected in the dynamics of the population of these states.

In the PRC, measures to stabilize population growth began to be carried out in the early 1980s. The measures taken were tough and well thought out. So, each state strongly recommends having no more than one child. For this, parents receive a number of preferences: subsidies, increased pensions and a simplified algorithm for obtaining housing. If the family has more than two children, then additional taxes are deducted from the parents' salaries in favor of the state treasury.

Demographic policy in India is also aimed at population decline. However, in this country it does not bring the desired results and, by and large, comes down to only declarative slogans. A family of five in India is still considered quite common and commonplace.

In the near future, India should overtake China in terms of population. Experts predict that this event will take place in the first half of the 2020s.

Scientists have calculated the number of the world's population on the first day of the coming 2016. The number of inhabitants of the Earth has increased!

Demographers said that almost 7.3 billion people will meet the coming 2016. This calculation was made by American specialists, employees of the Federal Bureau of the Census.

Scientists said: "It is predicted that the population of the Earth on January 1, 2016 will be 7 billion 295 million 889 thousand 256 people, if compared with 2015, the world's population has increased by 78 million."

Recall that countries such as China and India are still in the lead in terms of the number of inhabitants, with 1.367 billion and 1.252 billion people, respectively. The United States, with 322 million and 762 thousand people, ranks third, followed by Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh. The Russian Federation ranks 9th in this list with 142 million 423 thousand people. Japan ranks tenth among the most numerous states.

It should be noted that experts made forecasts for 84 years ahead. According to the staff of the University of Washington (USA) and UN specialists, the population of the Earth by 2100 with a probability of 80% can reach 10-12 billion people.

Comments:

Data on the number of countries in the world on the planet can be found on official resources via the Internet, and they are provided by leading analysts of specialized world organizations. Given this nuance, it is worth noting that these data are quite accurate and with their help you can see the whole picture of the population on the globe.

A natural question arises: how is the analysis of this kind of data carried out. Statistics are compiled through a population census, registration records and other available information sources. In their capacity, civil and legal acts can be used. Maximum accuracy and reliability of data is achieved by mathematical calculation of the average life expectancy for each individual state. This indicator is also an estimate.

Among other things, one should not overlook the fact that the population on earth is constantly undergoing transformation: countries can arise, disappear or unite. In some territories, it is simply not possible to carry out an accurate count of citizens. And this is due to the process of their growth and population migration. Until now, such a phenomenon as the emergence and disappearance of new uncontrolled territories is observed on the globe.

For example, in Brazil there are entire settlements of unregistered citizens. The same can be said for Bhutan.

About the population density of the countries of the world

Population density is an equally important indicator. This value represents the number of inhabitants per 1 sq. km. The calculation of the population density of each country in the world is carried out with the exclusion of uninhabited territories, as well as minus the vast expanses of water. In addition to the general population density, its individual indicators can be used, both for rural and urban residents.

Considering the above facts, it should be borne in mind that the population on the globe is unevenly distributed. The average density of each country differs significantly among themselves. In addition, within the states themselves there are many uninhabited territories, or densely populated cities, in which one square meter. km can account for several hundred people.

The most densely populated are the territories of South and East Asia, as well as the countries of Western Europe, while in the Arctic, in the deserts, tropics and highlands, it is not at all dense. absolutely does not depend on the density of their population. Investigating the uneven distribution of the population, it is advisable to highlight the following statistical data: 7% of the world's territory occupies 70% of the total number of people on the planet.

At the same time, the eastern part of the globe occupies 80% of the world's population.

The main criterion that serves as an indicator of the distribution of people is population density. The average value of this indicator at the moment is equal to 40 million people per square meter. km. This indicator can change and is in direct proportion to the location of the area. In some territories, its value can be equal to 2 thousand people per square meter. km, and on others - 1 person per sq. km.

It is advisable to single out the countries with the lowest population density:

• Australia;
• Namibia;
• Libya;
• Mongolia;

Greenland is one of the countries with the lowest population density

And also countries with low density:

• Belgium;
• United Kingdom;
• Korea;
• Lebanon;
• Netherlands;
• El Salvador and several other countries.

There are countries with an average population density, among them are:

• Iraq;
• Malaysia;
• Tunisia;
• Mexico;
• Morocco;
• Ireland.

In addition, there are areas on the globe that are classified as uninhabitable territories.

Typically, they are terrain with extreme conditions. Such lands account for about 15% of all land.

As for Russia, it belongs to the category of low-populated states, despite the fact that its territory is quite large. The average population density in Russia is 1 person per 1 sq. km.

It is worth noting that the world is constantly undergoing changes, in which there is a decrease in either the birth rate or the death rate. This state of affairs indicates that the density and population size will soon be kept at about the same level.

The largest and smallest countries in terms of area and population

The largest country in the world in terms of population is China.

The number of people at the moment in the state is 1.349 billion people.

Next in terms of number is India with a population of 1.22 billion people, then the United States of America: the country is home to 316.6 million people. The next largest number belongs to Indonesia: today the country is home to 251.1 million citizens.

This is followed by Brazil with a population of 201 million people, then Pakistan, the number of citizens of which is 193.2 million, Nigeria - 174.5 million, Bangladesh - 163.6 million citizens. Then Russia, with a population of 146 million people, and, finally, Japan, whose population is 127.2 million.

For a more detailed understanding of the issue, it is advisable to study the statistics regarding the smallest countries in the world by population. In this scenario, it will be enough to consider the gradation of several independent states, which also include associated countries. The number of people in countries, in decreasing order, is as follows:

• Saint Kitts and Nevis with a population of 49 thousand 898 people;
• Liechtenstein, with a population of 35 thousand 870 people;
• San Marino, the number of citizens of the country is 35 thousand 75 people;
• Palau, a state belonging to the Association of the United States of America, with a population of 20,842;
• with a population of 19 thousand 569 people;
• Order of Malta, which consists of 19 thousand 569 people;
• Tuvalu with a population of 10 thousand 544 people;
• Nauru - the population of the country is 9 thousand 322 people;
• Niue is an island with a population of 1,398 people.

The smallest state in terms of population is considered to be the Vatican.

At the moment, only 836 people live in the country.

Population table of all countries of the world

The table of the number of population of the countries of the world looks like this.

According to UN estimates, in 2016, 4 billion people, or 54.5% of the world's population, lived in urban areas.

According to UN estimates, the world's urban population reached 4 billion people by mid-2016, or 54.5% of the total population.

In the middle of the last century, the urban population of the world numbered 746 million people, and the rural population - 1779 million people, or 2.4 times more. The world's population was predominantly rural: about 70% of the world's population lived in rural settlements, and 30% in urban settlements (Fig. 1).

The rapid urbanization of the world has led to the fact that in 2007 a historic milestone was overcome - for the first time in the history of mankind, the urban population surpassed the rural population (3345 versus 3328 million people). In subsequent years, the urban population continued to grow at a faster pace. Compared to 1950, the urban population of the world has increased 5.4 times, and the rural population - 1.9 times.

In the coming years, the urban population will continue to grow, and the rural population, before reaching 3.4 billion people (the highest value - 3,380 million people in 2022), will begin to decline gradually in the second decade of this century. As a result, in the future, an increasing part of the world population will be represented by residents of urban areas.

According to the average version of the projection of the world population, it is expected that by 2030, by which the world community has set the goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015, the world's urban population will increase by another billion people, or by 25%, to 5.1 billion. Thus, it will reach the same size as the world population (urban and rural) in 1988.

Riceunok 1. The number of urban and rural population of the world, 1950-2050, billion people

A source

The growth rate of the world's urban population is gradually slowing down. In the period from 1965 to 1990, it increased by an average of 2.6% per year, and in the 1950s - by more than 3% per year. Starting from the 1990s, the growth rate of the urban population began to decline, amounting to 2.0% per year in 2014-2015, and 1.9% in 2016-2018. According to forecast calculations, in the future, the growth rate of the world's urban population will continue to decline - down to 1.4% per year in 2029-2031 (Fig. 1).

The strong urban population growth will be combined with the rural population decline starting in 2023. At first, the decline in the rural population will be insignificant, close to zero, but in the middle of the century it may increase to 0.4% per year.

Riceunok 2. Increase in the number of urban and rural population of the world, 1950-2050,% per year

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev.2014 / 1 / F19-F20. File 19: Annual Urban Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands). File 20: Annual Rural Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands).

The share of the urban population in the total world population is steadily increasing. If in 1950 it was 29.6%, and in 2007 - 50.1%, then by 2016 it rose to 54.5%, and by 2030 it is expected to increase to 60.0% (Fig. 3).

The rate of urbanization (the increase in the share of the urban population), subject to noticeable fluctuations from different combinations of the growth rates of the urban and rural population, decreases in the long term. If in the mid-1950s they reached 1.4% per year, in the early 1980s and in 2002-2005 - 1.1% per year, then by 2016 they decreased to 0.8%, and by 2030 year, according to the forecast, will drop to 0.6% per year.

Riceunok 3. The share of the urban population (% of the total population) and the rate of urbanization (increase in the share of the urban population,% per year), the world as a whole, 1950-2050

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev.2014 / 1 / F19, F21. File 19: Annual Urban Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands). File 21: Annual Percentage of Population at Mid-Year Residing in Urban Areas by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050.

The absolute and relative size of the urban population varies significantly across regions and groups of countries in the world.

By mid-2016, urban settlements in developed countries) were estimated to be home to about a billion people and to 3 billion people in urban settlements in developing countries, including 0.3 billion in the world's least developed countries (Figure 4). Thus, the urban population of developed countries is 24.6% of the world's urban population, while the urban population of developing countries is 75.4%, including 7.6% in the world's least developed countries. By 2030, the urban share of the developed countries may fall to 20.8%, while the urban share of the least developed countries may rise to 10.0%.

Note that not so long ago, urban dwellers from developed countries represented most of the world's urban dwellers (more than 50% before 1970, about 60% in the middle of the last century).

Riceunok4. The number of urban population by major groups of countries of the world, 1950-2050, billion people

* without least developed countries

A source

More than half of the world's urban population lives in Asia - 2.2 billion people, or 53.6% in 2016 (Figure 5). The urban population of Europe is 13.6% (549 million people), Latin America - 12.6% (510 million people), Africa - 12.1% (488 million people). The urban population of North America is 7.4% (298 million people), Oceania - 0.7% (28 million people).

By 2030, the world's urban population will increase by 1,024 million, according to UN estimates. Virtually all of the expected growth (97%) will be concentrated in developing countries, whose combined population will increase by 961 million, or 32%. The urban population of developed countries will increase by 63 million, or 6.3%.

Almost 86% of the growth of the world's urban population in 2016-2030 will be in Asia (58%) and Africa (28%), 8% in Latin America, 4% in North America, 2% in Europe, 0.5% - to Oceania.

Figure 5. The size of the urban population by major geographic regions of the world, 1950-2050, billions of people

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev.2014 / 1 / F19. File 19: Annual Urban Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands).

The lowest urban population growth is observed in Europe. In 1996-2000, the overall growth rate dropped to almost zero (0.1% in the region as a whole), as a number of European countries experienced population decline. In 2006-2009, the growth in the urban population increased to 0.5% per year, but then the decline resumed. In 2012-2021 it will be 0.3% per year, and by 2030 it will decrease to 0.2% per year (Fig. 6).

A gradual slowdown in urban population growth is expected in other regions of the world, but now total growth everywhere except Europe exceeds 1% per year, amounting to 1.0% in North America, 1.4% in Oceania and Latin America, 2 , 3% in Asia and 3.5% in Africa. The growth rates of the urban population in North and Latin America, as well as Oceania, are gradually converging, decreasing, while in Asia and Africa they remain extremely high.

By 2030, urban population growth will slow in all regions. Despite the expected decline, in Africa it will remain very high (3.1% per year). In Asia, the rate of urban population growth will decrease to 1.3% per year, approximately the same in Oceania (1.2%), slightly lower in Latin and North America (0.9).

Figure 6. Growth in urban population by major regions of the world, 1950-2050,%

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev. 20114/1 / F19. File 19: Annual Urban Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands).

The world's rural population is mainly concentrated in Asia (67% in 2016) and Africa (21%). The number of rural residents in Asia was estimated at 2,265 million in mid-2016, and 706 million in Africa (Figure 7). In Europe, 195 million people live in rural settlements (5.8% of the rural population of the world), in Latin America - 127 million people (3.8%), in North America - 66 million people (2.0%), in Oceania - about 12 million people (0.3%).

Rural populations are declining in Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia, and growing rapidly in Africa and Oceania (Figure 8). By 2030, Asia's rural population will decline to 2,134 million, and its share of the world's rural population will drop to 63%. The rural population of Africa will increase to 864 million people, and the share in the rural population of the world - to almost 26%. As a result, their total share as a whole will remain high - about 90%.

The share of Europe in the world's rural population will decrease to 5% in 2030 (169 million people), Latin America - to 3.6% (122 million people). The share of the rural population in North America will remain virtually unchanged at 1.9% (64 million people) and the share of the rural population in Oceania will slightly increase to 0.4% (almost 14 million people).

Figure 7. Rural population by major geographic regions of the world, 1950-2050, billion people

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev.2014 / 1 / F20. File 20: Annual Rural Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands).

The rural population of Europe has been declining throughout the observation period, albeit with some deviations from the trend (Fig. 8). In the late 1960s and 1970s, the decline reached 0.7-0.8% per year, in the 1990s it decreased to -0.2% per year. By 2016, the intensity of the decline increased to 0.7% per year, and by 2030, it may be 1.2% per year.

In North America, the decline in the rural population was noted in 1964-1970 and more intensive (up to -0.6% per year) in 1991-2000, but, according to UN estimates, it became stable only since 2012. The rural population of Latin America has been declining since the mid-1990s, and the rural population of Asia has been declining since 2002. Currently, the decline in the rural population of Asia is 0.3% per year, Latin America - 0.2%, North America - 0.1% per year. By 2030, the decline is expected to increase - up to 0.5% in Asia, up to 0.4% in North and Latin America.

The growth rate of the rural population in Africa and Oceania is slowing down, but is likely to remain high until the end of the forecast period. In 2016, it was 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively, and by 2030 it will decrease, according to the UN forecast, to 1.3% and 0.9%.

Figure 8. Rural population growth by major regions of the world, 1950-2050,%

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev. 20114/1 / F20. File 20: Annual Rural Population at Mid-Year by Major Area, Region and Country, 1950-2050 (thousands).

Historically, the process of urbanization began in more developed countries. Already in the middle of the last century, more than half of the population of this group of countries lived in urban settlements. The highest share of the urban population in 1950 was in North America (64%), slightly lower in Oceania (62) and noticeably lower in Europe (52%). Urbanization in these regions continued in the following decades, and the share of the urban population continued to grow (Fig. 9). Only in Oceania, it, having reached almost 72% in the mid-1970s, stabilized at this level and even slightly decreased by the beginning of the 2000s.

In 2016, the share of the urban population in North America was the highest (81.8%). It is slightly lower in Latin America (80.1%), noticeably lower in Europe (73.8%) and Oceania (70.8%).

In Asia and Africa, the rural population is still dominant, despite a steady and rapid increase in the share of urban population. In Asia, the share of the urban population is already very close to the significant half (48.8% in 2016), in Africa it is 40.9%.

By 2030, the proportion of the urban population will increase in all regions of the world. The predominance of the rural population will remain only in Africa, but even there the share of urban residents will exceed 47%. In North America it will exceed 84%, in Latin America - 83%, in Europe - 77%, in Oceania it will be 71.3%, and in Asia - 56.3%.

Figure 9. The share of urban population by major geographic regions of the world, 1950-2050,% of the total population

A source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2014). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, CD-ROM Edition. POP / DB / WUP / Rev.2014 / 1 / F21.

Urban population growth is driven by three factors:

• natural increase (excess of the number of births over the number of deaths in urban areas),
• migration gain (excess of the number of arrivals to urban areas over the number of departures from them, usually due to migration from village to city),
• growth due to the expansion of urban areas as a result of the annexation of former rural lands or the transformation of rural settlements into urban ones.

The contribution of individual growth factors can be assessed using the Census Survival Ratio Method, comparing data on the size of the urban and the entire population by sex and age. Thus, it is possible to assess the contribution of natural growth, on the one hand, and migration growth and growth due to administrative transformations, on the other hand. Studies carried out on the basis of available data for the 1960s and 1990s have shown that in developing countries, the leading factor in urban population growth is natural growth, which accounts for about 60% of total growth. However, its role differs over time and across countries. In Latin America and Africa, the contribution of natural growth to urban population growth has increased over time, while in Asia it has declined. In countries such as Armenia, Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand, it has dropped by half over the past few decades. Whether it has decreased due to the growing role of migration from rural to urban areas or due to a more active state policy of administrative reforms, it is impossible to establish using this method. But, in general, the leading role of high natural growth is obvious: in Africa, it provided 65% of the total urban population growth in the 1990s, in Asia - 51%, in Latin America - 69%.

A combined analysis of census data and other detailed data from the National Statistical Service of Thailand showed that the country's urban population grew from 1980 to 1990 due to all factors: natural increase (46.4%), net migration (25.1%), expansion boundaries of urban settlements (14.3%) and the transformation of rural settlements into urban (14.2%).

However, given the frequent changes in the definition of urban areas, UN experts warn against simple comparisons of the level of urbanization in order to separate the impact of fundamental socio-economic transformations from political decisions.