The world in 1972
On 1 January 1972, 3.81 billion people were alive. During the year, 124 million children were born and 47.8 million people died.
In 2026 the world has 4.46 billion more people, 2.2 times as many.
The median age is 20.4. 38% of the people are under 15 and 5.3% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 57.2 years, and women have 4.5 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 6.
- Population, 1 January 1972
- 3,807,025,705
- Median age
- 20.4
- Births in 1972
- 123,554,018
- Deaths in 1972
- 47,770,222
- Life expectancy at birth
- 57.2
- Children per woman
- 4.54
- Under 15
- 37.6%
- 65 and over
- 5.3%
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The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 854,071,933 | 40.6% | 3.8% |
| India | 564,002,646 | 41.2% | 3.7% |
| United States | 211,717,355 | 27.7% | 9.8% |
| Russia | 131,346,563 | 25.1% | 8.0% |
| Indonesia | 120,428,988 | 42.6% | 3.2% |
| Japan | 108,570,656 | 23.3% | 7.3% |
| Brazil | 98,931,217 | 42.0% | 3.0% |
| Germany | 78,588,501 | 22.9% | 14.0% |
| Bangladesh | 70,660,342 | 44.6% | 2.9% |
| Pakistan | 62,661,416 | 44.0% | 2.9% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 29.7% | 1972 |
| People using the internet | none observed | – |
| Access to electricity | none observed | – |
| Adult literacy (ages 15 and over) | none observed | – |
| none observed | – | |
| none observed | – | |
| none observed | – | |
| Human Development Index | none observed | – |
Values observed in 1972, or in the closest earlier year within five years, shown with that year. The share in cities is a UN estimate to 2025 and a projection after. Sources: World Bank WDI, UNDP HDR, UN WUP 2025.
Sources: World Population Prospects 2024, UN DESA Population Division (CC BY 3.0 IGO).