10 most populous countries in the world, Indonesia ranks fourth
The world’s population is projected to reach 8.2 billion people in 2026, with most of the largest countries located in Asia. Based on projections from the U.S. Census Bureau International Database (IDB) as of 1 July 2026, there are 10 countries that occupy the top positions in world population. Indonesia is one of the Asian countries included in the list.
India ranks first as the country with the largest population in the world. Its population is projected to reach 1,429,700,205 people on 1 July 2026. This figure makes India the only country whose population has surpassed 1.4 billion in the projection.
China is in second place with a population of around 1,405,918,803 people. Although its population is still above 1.4 billion, its demographic development differs from India. UN projections show China’s population has reached its peak phase and is expected to decline in the long term.
The United States is in third place with a population of around 342,620,143 people. It is the only non-Asian country in the world’s top three population rankings in 2026.
Indonesia ranks fourth with a projected population of 285,562,809 people on 1 July 2026. This position makes Indonesia the fourth most populous country in the world and one of the largest countries in Asia. In UN projections, Indonesia also ranked fourth in 2024 with around 282.4 million people. The UN estimates Indonesia’s population will continue to increase until reaching a peak around 2059 before declining.
Pakistan is in fifth place with a population of around 261,714,024 people. This South Asian country has significant population growth. UN projections show Pakistan could overtake the United States in population in the coming decades.
Nigeria ranks sixth with a population of around 250,228,859 people. The West African country is the most populous on the African continent. Nigeria’s population growth is projected to continue in the coming decades.
Brazil is in seventh place with a population of around 222,624,000 people. With this figure, Brazil is the most populous country in South America and one of two countries in the Americas in the world’s top 10 population rankings.
Bangladesh is in eighth place with a population of around 175,927,589 people. The South Asian country is among the most populous despite its relatively small territory compared to other countries on the list.
Russia is in ninth place with a population of around 139,450,252 people. Russia is the ninth most populous country in the 2026 projection. However, in the UN’s long-term projections, Russia is among the countries expected to experience population decline.
Mexico completes the top 10 with a population of around 132,807,523 people. The North American country is below Russia and is the second most populous country in Latin America after Brazil.
With a population of around 285.56 million, Indonesia remains in fourth place in the world in 2026. The gap between Indonesia and the United States in third place is around 57 million people, while Indonesia is ahead of Pakistan in fifth place by around 23.8 million people.
The five most populous countries are all from Asia except the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau records India, China, Indonesia and Pakistan together with the United States as the five most populous countries in the world.
However, these figures are projections, not the results of a census conducted simultaneously on 1 July 2026. The U.S. Census Bureau compiles projections based on available population, birth, death and migration data. Figures may change if new demographic data emerges.
Globally, the world population in 2026 is projected to reach around 8.19 billion people. The data shows that Asia remains the region with the largest number of countries with the world’s biggest populations. Thus, Indonesia is included in the list of the 10 most populous countries in 2026, ranking fourth in the world after India, China and the United States.