World population by continent

Distribution of the global population 2024, by continent

Characteristic	Share of the global population
Africa	18.29%
North America	4.68%
Latin America and the Caribbean	8.18%
Asia	59.05%
Europe	9.24%
Oceania	0.57%

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Release date

September 2024

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Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

mid-2024

Supplementary notes

The statistical data were calculated by ��ƽ�� using the information provided in the source.

The data originate from statistical yearbooks and bulletins from the respective countries. In addition to this, publications of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Population Division) of the UN and the U.S. Census Bureau as a data source. Other sources include recent demographic studies, special studies and direct interviews with demographers and statistical inquiries at offices in the United States and other countries.

Citation formats

In the middle of 2023, about 60 percent of the global population was living in Asia.

The total world population amounted to 8.1 billion people on the planet. In other words 4.7 billion people were living in Asia as of 2023.

Global population

Due to medical advances, better living conditions and the increase of agricultural productivity, the world population increased rapidly over the past century, and is expected to continue to grow. After reaching eight billion in 2023, the global population is estimated to pass 10 billion by 2060.

Africa expected to drive population increase

Most of the future population increase is expected to happen in Africa. The countries with the highest population growth rate in 2024 were mostly African countries. While around 1.47 billion people live on the continent as of 2024, this is forecast to grow to 3.9 billion by 2100. This is underlined by the fact that most of the countries wit the highest population growth rate are found in Africa. The growing population, in combination with climate change, puts increasing pressure on the world's resources.