The world is divided into seven continents, each with its own unique demographic and geographical footprint. The table below presents a 2025 comparison of continents by total population, land area, population density, and share of the world population — offering a snapshot of how global population and land are distributed.
| # | Continent | 2025 Population | Area (Km²) | Density (P/Km²) | World % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 4,835,320,000 | 31,033,131 | 156 | 58.70% |
| 2 | Africa | 1,549,867,500 | 29,648,481 | 52 | 18.80% |
| 3 | Europe | 742,556,200 | 22,134,710 | 34 | 9% |
| 4 | North America | 617,286,600 | 21,329,947 | 29 | 7.50% |
| 5 | South America | 438,105,300 | 17,461,112 | 25 | 5.30% |
| 6 | Oceania | 46,609,600 | 8,486,460 | 5 | 0.60% |
| 7 | Antarctica | 0 | 13,720,000 | 0 | 0% |
- Asia is the most populous continent with 4.83 billion people, making up 58.7% of the world’s population.
- Africa, the second most populous, has 1.55 billion people, accounting for 18.8% of the global population.
- Europe ranks third with 742 million people, but its population density (34/km²) is much lower than Asia’s (156/km²).
- Oceania has the lowest population at 46.6 million and the lowest density of just 5 people per km².
- Despite having 0 population, Antarctica is the fifth largest continent by area, showing the disparity between land mass and inhabitation.
- North America and South America together make up 12.8% of the global population, with moderate population densities.
Global Population Distribution by Continent (2025)
Explore how Earth’s 8.2+ billion people are spread across continents.
In 2025, Asia dominates the population landscape with 4.83 billion people (58.7%), followed by Africa with 1.55 billion (18.8%). Europe accounts for 742 million (9%), while North America and South America house 617 million (7.5%) and 438 million (5.3%) respectively. Oceania holds just 0.6% of the global population with 46.6 million people, and Antarctica remains uninhabited.
Land Area of Continents
By land area, Asia leads with 31 million km² (21.5%), closely followed by Africa at 29.6 million km² (20.5%). Europe spans 22.1 million km², while North America and South America cover 21.3 million km² (14.8%) and 17.4 million km² (12%) respectively. Oceania holds 8.5 million km² (5.9%), and Antarctica, despite being uninhabited, comprises 13.7 million km² (9.5%) of Earth’s land surface.
FAQs
- What is the most populous continent in the world in 2025?
- Asia, with over 4.83 billion people.
- Which continent has the largest land area?
- Asia, covering around 31 million square kilometers.
- Which continent has the highest population density?
- Asia, with 156 people per square kilometer.
- Why does Antarctica have a population of zero?
- Antarctica has no permanent residents due to extreme conditions; only temporary researchers stay there.
- What percent of the world’s population lives in Africa?
- About 18.8% of the global population lives in Africa as of 2025.
- Which continent is the least densely populated?
- Oceania, with only 5 people per square kilometer.
- Does Europe have more people than North America?
- Yes, Europe has around 742 million people, more than North America’s 617 million.
- Are there more people in South America or Australia/Oceania?
- South America, with 438 million people, has far more than Oceania’s 46 million.