World Population Overview: Trends and Insights from 1960 to 2024
The world population has reached 8.11 billion in 2024, surpassing the 8 billion milestone for the first time in 2023. Over the past 50 years, the global population has doubled, marking a significant demographic shift.
India and China together make up nearly 40% of the world’s population. In 2024, India remains the most populous country, closely followed by China, highlighting their significant role in global demographics.
India and China are the only countries with a population exceeding 1 billion. In total, 15 countries have a population of over 100 million. The global population has surged from approximately 1.6 billion in 1900 to 8 billion in 2024, marking a historic growth trend.
Read Also: Largest Country In the World by Area: Full list
World Population Milestones
| Milestone | Year of event | Difference in Year (to add 1 billion) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 billion | 1804 | |
| 2 billion | 1927 | 123 |
| 3 billion | 1960 | 33 |
| 4 billion | 1975 | 15 |
| 5 billion | 1987 | 12 |
| 6 billion | 1998 | 11 |
| 7 billion | 2010 | 12 |
| 8 billion | 2022 | 12 |
The world’s population has grown at an accelerating pace, reaching key milestones over the past two centuries. It took 123 years to grow from 1 billion in 1804 to 2 billion in 1927. The next billion was added in just 33 years (1960), followed by 15 years to reach 4 billion in 1975. Population growth continued rapidly, reaching 5 billion in 1987 (12 years), 6 billion in 1998 (11 years), and 7 billion in 2010 (12 years). The most recent milestone was 8 billion in 2022, taking another 12 years. This rapid growth reflects advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and living standards worldwide.
Read also: Most Populated countries in the World, 2025: Full list
World population from 1960 to 2024: Historical Data
| Year | Population (billion) | % change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.03 B | |
| 1961 | 3.07 B | 1.35% |
| 1962 | 3.13 B | 1.77% |
| 1963 | 3.19 B | 2.13% |
| 1964 | 3.26 B | 2.10% |
| 1965 | 3.33 B | 2.08% |
| 1966 | 3.40 B | 2.11% |
| 1967 | 3.47 B | 2.06% |
| 1968 | 3.54 B | 2.07% |
| 1969 | 3.61 B | 2.10% |
| 1970 | 3.69 B | 2.09% |
| 1971 | 3.77 B | 2.11% |
| 1972 | 3.84 B | 2.01% |
| 1973 | 3.92 B | 1.99% |
| 1974 | 4.00 B | 1.94% |
| 1975 | 4.07 B | 1.86% |
| 1976 | 4.14 B | 1.80% |
| 1977 | 4.22 B | 1.76% |
| 1978 | 4.29 B | 1.75% |
| 1979 | 4.37 B | 1.77% |
| 1980 | 4.44 B | 1.75% |
| 1981 | 4.52 B | 1.77% |
| 1982 | 4.60 B | 1.81% |
| 1983 | 4.68 B | 1.79% |
| 1984 | 4.77 B | 1.75% |
| 1985 | 4.85 B | 1.75% |
| 1986 | 4.94 B | 1.77% |
| 1987 | 5.02 B | 1.79% |
| 1988 | 5.11 B | 1.77% |
| 1989 | 5.20 B | 1.74% |
| 1990 | 5.29 B | 1.75% |
| 1991 | 5.38 B | 1.68% |
| 1992 | 5.47 B | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 5.56 B | 1.58% |
| 1994 | 5.64 B | 1.54% |
| 1995 | 5.73 B | 1.50% |
| 1996 | 5.81 B | 1.48% |
| 1997 | 5.90 B | 1.45% |
| 1998 | 5.98 B | 1.42% |
| 1999 | 6.06 B | 1.38% |
| 2000 | 6.14 B | 1.35% |
| 2001 | 6.23 B | 1.34% |
| 2002 | 6.31 B | 1.31% |
| 2003 | 6.39 B | 1.29% |
| 2004 | 6.47 B | 1.27% |
| 2005 | 6.55 B | 1.26% |
| 2006 | 6.64 B | 1.26% |
| 2007 | 6.72 B | 1.24% |
| 2008 | 6.80 B | 1.25% |
| 2009 | 6.89 B | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 6.97 B | 1.22% |
| 2011 | 7.05 B | 1.21% |
| 2012 | 7.14 B | 1.24% |
| 2013 | 7.23 B | 1.23% |
| 2014 | 7.32 B | 1.22% |
| 2015 | 7.40 B | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 7.49 B | 1.17% |
| 2017 | 7.58 B | 1.15% |
| 2018 | 7.66 B | 1.11% |
| 2019 | 7.74 B | 1.06% |
| 2020 | 7.82 B | 1.01% |
| 2021 | 7.89 B | 0.87% |
| 2022 | 7.95 B | 0.79% |
| 2023 | 8.02 B | 0.92% |
| 2024 | 8.11 B | 1.17% |
Source: World Bank
