Despite the fact that birth rates have been declining in many regions around the world since 2022, the human population continues to grow. According to UN estimates, on November 15, 2022, the world's population reached 8 billion, and by 2025, the total number will be around 8.232 billion.
In the infographic, based on UN data, the demographic picture by country is very clear: on the growth "map," the main burden shifts towards Asia and Africa. Today, India is consolidating its first place in terms of population and is increasingly approaching the 1.5 billion mark. It is noteworthy that despite the fact that the birth rate is falling below the level of self-sufficiency, the total population of India is still growing: according to UNFPA, the total birth rate for 2025 is 1.9 per woman, and life expectancy is 71 years for men and 74 years for women.
China is still in second place with a population of more than 1.4 billion. But the demographic "direction" there is different: due to population aging and low birth rates, growth is slowing down, and the downward trend is intensifying. Therefore, at the UN policy briefing, it was emphasized that in April 2023, India's population equalized with China's and then surpassed it.
The USA is in third place: the UNFPA dashboard for 2025 lists the country's population as 347.3 million. But long-term forecasts point to another "big turning point": by the 2050s, Nigeria could surpass the US. In UN materials, the population growth and age structure of Nigeria are cited as the main reasons for this scenario.
In Europe, however, the picture is much more complex: in some countries, population decline and average age have become "two pressures at once." Countries such as Italy and Greece are mentioned among the regions with a high rate of aging - which has a long-term impact on the labor market, social security, and economic activity.
In short, the main intrigue of demography is this: the world's population continues to grow, but the center and rate of growth are changing. Tomorrow, both competition and opportunities will be on the side of countries with a higher proportion of the young population - therefore, these figures are not mere statistics, but a roadmap for the future.
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