Most Populous Countries in the World

This article presents the 50 most populous countries in the world, according to July 2017 data from The World Factbook of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

China is the most populous country in the world

This listing is constructed based on comparisons of US Bureau of the Census estimates and population census statistics, vital statistics recording systems, or recent sample surveys, and on assumptions of future trends. In the most recent list, dated July 2017, China is the most populous country in the world, with more than 1,379 million inhabitants. The second place is occupied by India, with more than 1 281 million inhabitants. In third place on the podium is the United States of America, with more than 326 million inhabitants. The first African country to appear on the list is Nigeria, in seventh place, with more than 190 million inhabitants. In ninth place is the first European country, with around 142 million inhabitants, Russia. The last country to appear in this list is Mozambique, with about 26 million inhabitants. Portugal does not appear in the list of the 50 most populous countries in the world, since, with almost 11 million inhabitants, it occupies the 84th place.