Explore how populations differ around the world—from total population and growth to age structure, urbanization, density, and life expectancy.
How to use the Population Explorer
Choose an indicator from the menu, such as total population, growth, density, age structure, urbanization, or life expectancy. The map colors every country by its latest value, so patterns jump out right away. Click a country, or search for it by name, to see a detailed profile with the latest figures and the year each one refers to.
What each indicator means
- Total population – everyone living in the country, regardless of citizenship.
- Population growth – the yearly percentage change in population. Negative numbers mean the population is shrinking.
- Population density – people per square kilometer of land area.
- Age 0–14 – the share of the population that is children.
- Age 65+ – the share of the population that is 65 or older.
- Urban population – the share of people living in areas each country defines as urban.
- Life expectancy – how many years a newborn would live on average if today’s death rates stayed the same throughout their life.
A world of very different populations
The latest World Bank figures show just how different countries are:
- India (about 1.46 billion) and China (about 1.41 billion) are the two largest countries by far. Together they are home to more than a third of humanity.
- Japan is one of the oldest societies on Earth: about 30% of its people are 65 or older. In Nigeria, the figure is only about 3%.
- South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates ever recorded, at about 0.7 children per woman in 2024. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable over the long term without immigration.
- Population density ranges from about 530 people per square kilometer in South Korea to about 37 in the United States and 25 in Brazil.
Why these numbers matter
Age structure shapes almost everything about a country’s future. A young population needs schools and jobs. An older one needs pensions, health care, and caregivers, and may face labor shortages. Countries with low birth rates and aging populations, such as Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Germany, are already facing these challenges, while many countries in Africa will see their populations grow for decades.
Urbanization matters too. More than half of the world’s people now live in cities, and that share keeps rising, which changes housing, transport, and the economy.
Where the data comes from
All figures come from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, which are based on national censuses, surveys, and estimates from the United Nations. Each value shows the most recent year available, which is often a year or two behind the current date. Different countries also define “urban” in different ways, so compare urbanization figures with care.
Common questions
Why are some countries gray?
Gray means no recent data is available for the selected indicator.
Is life expectancy how long people actually live?
Not exactly. It’s a snapshot based on current death rates. Most babies born today are likely to live longer than the figure suggests, because health care usually keeps improving.
Explore more
- World Explorer – quick facts on every country
- Health Explorer – life expectancy, health spending, and more
- Age Calculator – find your exact age in years, months, and days