The world in 2003
On 1 January 2003, 6.38 billion people were alive. During the year, 136 million children were born and 53.1 million people died.
In 2026 the world has 1.88 billion more people, 1.3 times as many.
The median age is 25.7. 29% of the people are under 15 and 7.1% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 67.4 years, and women have 2.7 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 11.
- Population, 1 January 2003
- 6,379,049,788
- Median age
- 25.7
- Births in 2003
- 135,700,801
- Deaths in 2003
- 53,077,072
- Life expectancy at birth
- 67.4
- Children per woman
- 2.66
- Under 15
- 29.4%
- 65 and over
- 7.1%
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The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,290,718,988 | 22.5% | 7.5% |
| India | 1,107,246,507 | 34.6% | 4.5% |
| United States | 288,484,095 | 20.8% | 12.1% |
| Indonesia | 223,577,996 | 29.9% | 5.3% |
| Brazil | 179,585,952 | 28.5% | 5.4% |
| Pakistan | 165,049,445 | 42.5% | 3.5% |
| Russia | 146,128,369 | 16.3% | 12.9% |
| Bangladesh | 139,977,550 | 36.5% | 3.6% |
| Nigeria | 135,310,147 | 43.8% | 3.0% |
| Japan | 127,589,624 | 14.0% | 18.9% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 40.2% | 2003 |
| People using the internet | none observed | – |
| Access to electricity | 80.0% | 2003 |
| Adult literacy (ages 15 and over) | 82.2% | 2003 |
| 82.1% | 2003 | |
| 58.4% | 2003 | |
| 50.4% | 2003 | |
| Human Development Index | 0.669 | 2003 |
Values observed in 2003, 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).