The world’s population is projected to reach new heights by 2030, with significant shifts in demographic trends across various regions. Understanding these projections helps governments, businesses, and organizations plan for the future. According to estimates, the global population is expected to surpass 8.5 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by higher birth rates in developing countries and longer life expectancies worldwide. In this article, we delve into the population projections for 2030, highlighting the most and least populous countries, and exploring the factors influencing these changes.
Top 10 Most Populous Countries in 2030
India: 1,514,994,080
China: 1,415,605,906
United States: 352,162,301
Indonesia: 292,150,100
Pakistan: 274,029,836
Nigeria: 262,580,426
Brazil: 223,908,968
Bangladesh: 184,424,144
Russia: 141,432,741
Ethiopia: 149,296,378
India is projected to surpass over 1.5 billion people in or before 2030. This demographic shift is attributed to India’s higher fertility rates and younger population. China, while still growing, will see a slower rate due to its aging population and past one-child policy. The United States will maintain its position as the third most populous country, driven by immigration and relatively higher birth rates compared to other developed nations.
Indonesia and Pakistan follow, reflecting significant growth in South Asia. Nigeria’s population boom is notable, with the country expected to become the most populous in Africa, driven by high birth rates and improving healthcare. Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, and Ethiopia round out the top ten, each showing unique demographic trends influenced by economic, social, and political factors.
Top 10 Least Populous Countries in 2030
Vatican City: 764
Niue: 1,948
Tokelau: 2,046
Falkland Islands: 3,869
Montserrat: 4,301
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 5,651
Saint Barthelemy: 11,113
Wallis and Futuna: 11,229
Tuvalu: 11,917
Nauru: 13,358
At the other end of the spectrum, Vatican City remains the least populous country, with fewer than 1,000 residents. Other small island nations and territories like Niue, Tokelau, and the Falkland Islands have populations under 5,000, largely due to their limited land area and resources, which constrain population growth.
Many of these least populous countries are located in remote areas or have specific socio-economic conditions that limit population expansion. For example, Montserrat’s population remains low due to past volcanic activity, and Tuvalu and Nauru face challenges related to climate change and limited economic opportunities. These countries often rely on unique economic activities, such as tourism or specialized industries, to sustain their populations.
Understanding these projections allows for better preparation and policy-making to address the unique challenges and opportunities that come with population changes in both the most and least populous countries.
Rank
Country
Pop 2030
1
India
1,514,994,080
2
China
1,415,605,906
3
United States
352,162,301
4
Indonesia
292,150,100
5
Pakistan
274,029,836
6
Nigeria
262,580,426
7
Brazil
223,908,968
8
Bangladesh
184,424,144
9
Russia
141,432,741
10
Ethiopia
149,296,378
11
Mexico
134,534,107
12
Japan
118,514,802
13
Philippines
129,453,321
14
Egypt
125,151,725
15
DR Congo
127,582,053
16
Vietnam
102,699,905
17
Iran
92,921,017
18
Turkey
88,879,698
19
Germany
82,762,675
20
Thailand
72,060,018
21
Tanzania
81,885,304
22
United Kingdom
69,175,770
23
France
65,543,452
24
South Africa
64,659,278
25
Italy
57,544,258
26
Kenya
63,103,942
27
Myanmar
56,987,625
28
Colombia
54,129,764
29
South Korea
51,290,214
30
Uganda
58,380,262
31
Sudan
56,997,099
32
Spain
47,076,573
33
Iraq
52,800,825
34
Algeria
49,787,283
35
Argentina
47,678,560
36
Afghanistan
50,330,837
37
Poland
38,700,518
38
Canada
41,008,596
39
Morocco
40,226,395
40
Ukraine
38,295,429
41
Angola
44,911,664
42
Saudi Arabia
40,461,368
43
Uzbekistan
38,313,228
44
Yemen
39,923,245
45
Mozambique
40,920,707
46
Ghana
38,775,850
47
Peru
36,702,393
48
Malaysia
36,687,569
49
Nepal
33,133,395
50
Madagascar
35,604,443
51
Ivory Coast
34,211,272
52
Venezuela
32,027,461
53
Cameroon
34,051,103
54
Niger
35,217,942
55
Australia
28,202,414
56
North Korea
26,569,401
57
Syria
29,824,735
58
Mali
28,712,294
59
Taiwan
24,027,999
60
Burkina Faso
27,523,563
61
Sri Lanka
22,186,970
62
Malawi
24,944,243
63
Zambia
24,676,417
64
Kazakhstan
21,128,221
65
Chile
19,933,769
66
Romania
19,023,383
67
Chad
22,460,393
68
Somalia
22,316,857
69
Ecuador
19,486,952
70
Guatemala
20,003,638
71
Senegal
21,125,872
72
Netherlands
17,943,803
73
Cambodia
18,084,248
74
Zimbabwe
19,179,393
75
Guinea
16,622,388
76
Rwanda
16,375,704
77
Benin
16,393,827
78
Burundi
15,800,530
79
Bolivia
13,625,507
80
Tunisia
13,100,768
81
Haiti
12,700,006
82
Belgium
11,873,460
83
Dominican Republic
11,982,523
84
Jordan
11,933,395
85
South Sudan
12,570,402
86
Cuba
11,016,041
87
Honduras
11,724,522
88
Sweden
11,007,228
89
Papua New Guinea
11,615,322
90
Czech Republic
10,515,199
91
Azerbaijan
10,711,138
92
Tajikistan
11,421,430
93
Greece
10,059,703
94
Portugal
10,062,183
95
Hungary
9,642,912
96
United Arab Emirates
10,004,319
97
Belarus
9,206,170
98
Israel
10,134,951
99
Togo
10,558,178
100
Sierra Leone
10,105,188
101
Austria
9,054,576
102
Switzerland
9,143,698
103
Laos
8,321,287
104
Hong Kong
7,485,887
105
Nicaragua
7,688,686
106
Serbia
6,832,604
107
Libya
7,394,813
108
Paraguay
7,425,448
109
Kyrgyzstan
7,435,378
110
Bulgaria
6,290,166
111
Turkmenistan
7,034,758
112
El Salvador
6,554,224
113
Republic of the Congo
7,114,987
114
Singapore
6,251,988
115
Denmark
6,104,474
116
Central African Republic
7,104,274
117
Slovakia
5,555,114
118
Finland
5,565,475
119
Liberia
6,282,074
120
Norway
5,748,397
121
Palestine
6,256,949
122
New Zealand
5,495,670
123
Costa Rica
5,432,243
124
Lebanon
4,714,240
125
Ireland
5,266,881
126
Mauritania
5,830,563
127
Oman
5,093,376
128
Panama
4,864,126
129
Kuwait
4,564,570
130
Croatia
3,850,140
131
Eritrea
4,283,355
132
Georgia
3,657,494
133
Mongolia
3,736,327
134
Uruguay
3,423,372
135
Moldova
3,174,727
136
Puerto Rico
3,259,722
137
Bosnia and Herzegovina
3,111,789
138
Gambia
3,263,651
139
Albania
2,789,599
140
Jamaica
2,804,356
141
Armenia
2,759,528
142
Qatar
2,855,291
143
Botswana
2,972,271
144
Lithuania
2,558,928
145
Namibia
2,910,056
146
Gabon
2,774,523
147
Lesotho
2,501,946
148
Guinea-Bissau
2,484,863
149
Slovenia
2,105,945
150
North Macedonia
2,072,256
151
Latvia
1,701,338
152
Equatorial Guinea
1,999,678
153
Trinidad and Tobago
1,547,690
154
Bahrain
1,574,679
155
Timor-Leste
1,495,081
156
Estonia
1,289,441
157
Mauritius
1,305,425
158
Cyprus
1,311,784
159
Eswatini
1,305,985
160
Djibouti
1,247,129
161
Reunion
1,031,822
162
Fiji
986,172
163
Comoros
959,412
164
Guyana
848,033
165
Bhutan
821,498
166
Solomon Islands
856,264
167
Macau
763,371
168
Luxembourg
697,086
169
Suriname
659,508
170
Montenegro
621,696
171
Cape Verde
638,840
172
Western Sahara
662,726
173
Malta
543,425
174
Maldives
512,683
175
Brunei
473,312
176
Belize
450,428
177
Bahamas
429,846
178
Guadeloupe
399,728
179
Iceland
390,338
180
Martinique
362,472
181
Mayotte
407,579
182
Vanuatu
391,135
183
French Guiana
366,669
184
French Polynesia
324,860
185
New Caledonia
312,529
186
Barbados
283,082
187
Sao Tome and Principe
265,036
188
Samoa
248,627
189
Curacao
197,829
190
Saint Lucia
183,274
191
Guam
180,746
192
Kiribati
148,720
193
Grenada
130,367
194
Micronesia
122,704
195
Jersey
119,047
196
Tonga
114,124
197
Seychelles
111,317
198
Aruba
104,924
199
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
104,322
200
United States Virgin Islands
93,419
201
Antigua and Barbuda
97,510
202
Isle of Man
85,798
203
Andorra
81,528
204
Dominica
74,988
205
Cayman Islands
72,865
206
Bermuda
62,806
207
Guernsey
65,141
208
Greenland
57,152
209
Faroe Islands
54,583
210
Northern Mariana Islands
51,178
211
Saint Kitts and Nevis
48,247
212
Turks and Caicos Islands
48,538
213
Sint Maarten
44,946
214
American Samoa
41,142
215
Marshall Islands
44,733
216
Liechtenstein
41,030
217
Monaco
35,862
218
San Marino
33,458
219
Gibraltar
32,771
220
Saint Martin
33,508
221
British Virgin Islands
32,995
222
Palau
17,919
223
Cook Islands
17,253
224
Anguilla
16,055
225
Nauru
13,358
226
Tuvalu
11,917
227
Wallis and Futuna
11,229
228
Saint Barthelemy
11,113
229
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
5,651
230
Montserrat
4,301
231
Falkland Islands
3,869
232
Niue
1,948
233
Tokelau
2,046
234
Vatican City
764
Rank
Country
Pop 2030
Disclaimer: The population projections in this article are based on current data and assumptions, and are subject to change due to unforeseen factors such as economic shifts, natural disasters, policy changes, and healthcare advancements. Actual figures in 2030 may vary. Use these projections as a guide, not an absolute prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the projected global population in 2030?
The projected global population in 2030 is over 8.5 billion.
What is the estimated population of India in 2030?
The estimated population of India in 2030 is approximately 1.51 billion.
How many people are projected to live in the United States in 2030?
The United States is projected to have a population of around 352 million in 2030.