The world in 1975
On 1 January 1975, 4.03 billion people were alive. During the year, 121 million children were born and 47.6 million people died.
Mid-1975 is the first mid-year with more than 4 billion people.
In 2026 the world has 4.23 billion more people, 2.0 times as many.
The median age is 20.7. 37% of the people are under 15 and 5.5% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 58.3 years, and women have 4.1 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 7.
- Population, 1 January 1975
- 4,034,031,762
- Median age
- 20.7
- Births in 1975
- 121,030,095
- Deaths in 1975
- 47,622,994
- Life expectancy at birth
- 58.3
- Children per woman
- 4.08
- Under 15
- 37.1%
- 65 and over
- 5.5%
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The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 908,744,967 | 40.2% | 3.9% |
| India | 604,113,224 | 40.8% | 3.8% |
| United States | 218,107,641 | 25.5% | 10.2% |
| Russia | 133,674,292 | 23.3% | 8.8% |
| Indonesia | 130,183,753 | 42.2% | 3.4% |
| Japan | 112,697,169 | 23.8% | 7.8% |
| Brazil | 106,339,777 | 40.7% | 3.2% |
| Germany | 78,910,778 | 21.7% | 14.7% |
| Bangladesh | 76,856,803 | 45.0% | 3.1% |
| Pakistan | 68,412,122 | 44.1% | 3.1% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 31.1% | 1975 |
| People using the internet | none observed | – |
| Access to electricity | none observed | – |
| Adult literacy (ages 15 and over) | 65.4% | 1975 |
| none observed | – | |
| none observed | – | |
| none observed | – | |
| Human Development Index | none observed | – |
Values observed in 1975, 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).