worldpopulationreview.com, as data

## Countries Grouped by Population### Countries over 1B population (2)India is currently the most populous country in the world, with a population estimated at **1.5B** as of 2026. India surpassed China as the world's most populous country in 2023. Only one other country in the world boasts a population of more than 1 billion people: China, whose population is estimated to be **1.4B** people.While India's population is projected to continue to grow until 2062, China's population is currently declining slightly.### Countries between 100M and 1B (14)While Russia and Japan are currently experiencing population decline, the rest of these countries are seeing population growth.Page: Countries with Declining Population### Least Populous Countries (8)219 countries have fewer than 100 million people. The smallest country in the world in terms of both population and total area is Vatican City, where only **506** people reside.### Population Ranges of Countries# of countriesPage: Fastest Growing Countries## Definitions & Methodology235 countries are counted based on:* Inclusion of dependent territories that are not fully independent countries but are politically or geographically distinct (for example: Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, and Greenland).* Inclusion of disputed territories that are recognized separately by some countries or organizations but not universally recognized as independent nations (for example: Taiwan, Western Sahara, and Kosovo).* Inclusion of special administrative regions with a high degree of autonomy (for example: Macau and Gibraltar).* Inclusion of microstates and dependencies that are often tracked independently despite very small populations (for example: Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, and the Isle of Man).## Related PagesSafest Countries in the WorldHappiest Countries in the World### Sources1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.