Population and Social Characteristics

I Never Would Have Thought this is the 4th Largest Country in the World

By Jennifer Geer Published Sep 24, 10:10AM EDT

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I Never Would Have Thought this is the 4th Largest Country in the World — © Radiokukka / Getty Images

The majority of the 8 billion people worldwide are concentrated in just a handful of the world’s 195 countries.

Using data from the World Bank, 24/7 Wall St. identified the world’s 30 most populous countries. Supplemental data on population distribution, gross domestic product, GDP per capita, and total fertility rates — or the average number of children women have in their lifetime — are also from the World Bank and are for the latest available year.

Why It Matters

Many countries with large populations are global economic pillars. The United States, one of the highest-ranking countries on this list, accounts for 25% of world GDP alone. Countries with large populations can also be more of a challenge to govern, as more people mean more competing interests, greater demand for resources, and increased strain on infrastructure.

30. Spain

Spain by The Krasnoyarsk National and Cultural Autonomy of the Chuvash People

Spain (CC BY 2.0) by The Krasnoyarsk National and Cultural Autonomy of the Chuvash People

Total population in 2022: 47,778,340
Population distribution: 81.3% urban; 18.7% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.4 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $29,675
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.2 children per woman over lifetime

29. South Korea

Total population in 2022: 51,628,117
Population distribution: 81.4% urban; 18.6% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.7 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $32,423
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 0.8 children per woman over lifetime

28. Colombia

Total population in 2022: 51,874,024
Population distribution: 82.1% urban; 18.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $343.6 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $6,624
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime

27. Kenya

Total population in 2022: 54,027,487
Population distribution: 29.0% urban; 71.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $113.4 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $2,099
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.3 children per woman over lifetime

26. Myanmar

Government building (Yangon Ci... by Francisco Anzola

Government building (Yangon Ci... (CC BY 2.0) by Francisco Anzola

Total population in 2022: 54,179,306
Population distribution: 31.8% urban; 68.2% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $62.3 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $1,149
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.2 children per woman over lifetime

25. Italy

Italy by u041cu0438u0445u0430u0438u043b u041bu0430u0437u0430u0440u0435u0432

Italy (CC BY 2.0) by u041cu0438u0445u0430u0438u043b u041bu0430u0437u0430u0440u0435u0432

Total population in 2022: 58,940,425
Population distribution: 71.7% urban; 28.3% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.0 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $34,776
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime

24. South Africa

Total population in 2022: 59,893,885
Population distribution: 68.3% urban; 31.7% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $405.3 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $6,766
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.4 children per woman over lifetime

23. Tanzania

Tanzania Banana market by Runjiv

Tanzania Banana market (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Runjiv

Total population in 2022: 65,497,748
Population distribution: 36.7% urban; 63.3% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $75.7 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $1,193
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.7 children per woman over lifetime

22. United Kingdom

Tower bridge - London, United ... by Giuseppe Milo

Tower bridge - London, United ... (CC BY 2.0) by Giuseppe Milo

Total population in 2022: 66,971,395
Population distribution: 84.4% urban; 15.6% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $3.1 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $46,125
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime

21. France

Total population in 2022: 67,971,311
Population distribution: 81.5% urban; 18.5% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.8 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $40,886
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.8 children per woman over lifetime

20. Thailand

Total population in 2022: 71,697,030
Population distribution: 52.9% urban; 47.1% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $495.4 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $6,910
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime

19. Germany

Total population in 2022: 83,797,985
Population distribution: 77.6% urban; 22.4% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $4.1 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $48,718
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime

18. Turkey

Total population in 2022: 84,979,913
Population distribution: 77.0% urban; 23.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $907.1 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $10,675
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.9 children per woman over lifetime

17. Iran

Total population in 2022: 88,550,570
Population distribution: 76.8% urban; 23.2% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $413.5 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $4,670
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime

16. Vietnam

Total population in 2022: 98,186,856
Population distribution: 38.8% urban; 61.2% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $408.8 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $4,164
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.9 children per woman over lifetime

15. Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tshikapa, DRC by Johnstanbul

Tshikapa, DRC (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Johnstanbul

Total population in 2022: 99,010,212
Population distribution: 46.8% urban; 53.2% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $64.7 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $654
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 6.2 children per woman over lifetime

14. Egypt

Total population in 2022: 110,990,103
Population distribution: 43.0% urban; 57.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $476.7 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $4,295
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.9 children per woman over lifetime

13. Philippines

Total population in 2022: 115,559,009
Population distribution: 48.0% urban; 52.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $404.3 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $3,499
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.7 children per woman over lifetime

12. Ethiopia

Ethiopia by Achilli Family | Journeys

Ethiopia (CC BY 2.0) by Achilli Family | Journeys

Total population in 2022: 123,379,924
Population distribution: 22.7% urban; 77.3% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $126.8 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $1,028
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 4.2 children per woman over lifetime

11. Japan

Total population in 2022: 125,124,989
Population distribution: 92.0% urban; 8.0% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $4.3 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $34,017
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.3 children per woman over lifetime

10. Mexico

Total population in 2022: 127,504,125
Population distribution: 81.3% urban; 18.7% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.5 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $11,497
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.8 children per woman over lifetime

9. Russia

Moscow+Russia | St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

Total population in 2022: 144,236,933
Population distribution: 75.1% urban; 24.9% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $2.2 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $15,271
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.5 children per woman over lifetime

8. Bangladesh

View of the sprawling Kutupalo... by DFID - UK Department for International Development

View of the sprawling Kutupalo... (CC BY 2.0) by DFID - UK Department for International Development

Total population in 2022: 171,186,372
Population distribution: 39.7% urban; 60.3% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $460.2 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $2,688
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.0 children per woman over lifetime

7. Brazil

Total population in 2022: 215,313,498
Population distribution: 87.6% urban; 12.4% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.9 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $8,918
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.6 children per woman over lifetime

6. Nigeria

Total population in 2022: 218,541,212
Population distribution: 53.5% urban; 46.5% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $472.6 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $2,163
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 5.2 children per woman over lifetime

5. Pakistan

Total population in 2022: 235,824,862
Population distribution: 37.7% urban; 62.3% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $374.7 billion
GDP per capita in 2022: $1,589
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 3.5 children per woman over lifetime

4. Indonesia

Total population in 2022: 275,501,339
Population distribution: 57.9% urban; 42.1% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $1.3 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $4,788
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.2 children per woman over lifetime

3. United States

Total population in 2022: 333,287,557
Population distribution: 83.1% urban; 16.9% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $25.4 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $76,330
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.7 children per woman over lifetime

2. China

Total population in 2022: 1,412,175,000
Population distribution: 63.6% urban; 36.4% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $18.0 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $12,720
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 1.2 children per woman over lifetime

1. India

Total population in 2022: 1,417,173,173
Population distribution: 35.9% urban; 64.1% rural
Gross domestic product in 2022: $3.4 trillion
GDP per capita in 2022: $2,411
Total fertility rate in 2021: Avg. of 2.0 children per woman over lifetime

About the Author Jennifer Geer →

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