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Talk with the Doc: Populations of the world’s largest countries

It is variously estimated that the entire population on planet earth is more than 7 1/2 billion people. This information is from the most recent world population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. Their estimates showed the entire world population in 2019 to be about 7 billion, 600 million people on earth. This estimate far exceeds the previous world population in 2015 of 7 billion, 200 million people living on planet earth.

China is the most populous country in the world with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people. It is one of just two countries on planet earth with a population of more than 1 billion people. India is considered to have the second largest population with approximately 1.3 billion. Population researchers now estimate that by the year 2030, the country of India is expected to become the most populous country in the world. This is because India’s population is currently the most rapidly growing population of all the countries on earth.

With less population than that of China and India, following is a list of the next 11 countries that are the most populous in the world with each having populations exceeding 100 million people. These countries include the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Russia, Mexico, Japan, Ethiopia, and the Philippines. Of all these nations, all are expected to continue to grow except Russia and Japan, which are predicted to see their populations drop by the year 2030. Many other nations have populations of at least one million, while there are also countries that have just thousands. The smallest population country in the world can be found in Vatican City, as this is considered to be a country on its own, with the population of Vatican City to be approximately 800 people.

In 2018, the world’s population growth rate was 1.12%. Every five years since the 1970s, the world population growth rate has fallen, but the world population has increased. The world’s population continues to grow but at a slower pace. By 2030, the world population is expected to exceed 8 billion people. It is further estimated that by the year 2040, the world population will grow to more than 9 billion.

The current annual world population growth estimates from the United Nations state that approximately 80 million new lives will be added to the world population each year. Particularly of interest, India is on track to overtake China’s position as the most populous country on earth by the year 2030. Additionally, multiple nations within Africa are expected to double their populations over the next several decades.

Another significant factor contributing to the increasing world population is increased length of life, or life expectancy. Global life expectancy has improved in recent years, increasing the overall entire world life expectancy to just over 70 years of age. The projected global life expectancy is expected to continue to improve, and is predicted to reach nearly 77 years of age by the year 2050. Significant factors impacting the data on life expectancy include the projections of improved health care to reduce the rates of world wide infections and non-communicable diseases.

Let me close with a list of the approximate population numbers of the top ten countries by population.

China = 1 billion, 441 million.

India = 1 billion, 384 million.

United States = 332 million.

Indonesia = 274 million.

Pakistan = 222 million.

Brazil = 213 million.

Nigeria = 208 million.

Bangladesh = 165 million.

Russia = 146 million.

Mexico = 129 million.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books.Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.

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