The world in 2026 (projected)
For 1 January 2026, the UN projects 8.27 billion people alive, and 133 million births and 63.6 million deaths during the year.
The median age is 31.1. 24% of the people are under 15 and 11% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 73.8 years, and women have 2.2 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 16.
Figures for 2026 are UN projections (medium variant). Estimates end in 2023.
- Population, 1 January 2026
- 8,266,245,291
- Median age
- 31.1
- Births in 2026
- 132,503,469
- Deaths in 2026
- 63,637,314
- Life expectancy at birth
- 73.8
- Children per woman
- 2.23
- Under 15
- 24.2%
- 65 and over
- 10.5%
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The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1,470,295,711 | 24.0% | 7.5% |
| China | 1,414,458,552 | 15.1% | 15.0% |
| United States | 348,178,045 | 17.0% | 18.6% |
| Indonesia | 286,820,254 | 24.1% | 7.7% |
| Pakistan | 257,236,371 | 36.0% | 4.4% |
| Nigeria | 239,967,749 | 40.3% | 3.1% |
| Brazil | 213,202,121 | 19.2% | 11.7% |
| Bangladesh | 176,756,539 | 27.5% | 6.8% |
| Russia | 143,559,521 | 16.9% | 18.1% |
| Ethiopia | 137,179,590 | 38.6% | 3.3% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 44.9% | 2026, projected |
| People using the internet | 73.6% | 2025 |
| Access to electricity | 91.9% | 2024 |
| Adult literacy (ages 15 and over) | 87.7% | 2024 |
| 91.5% | 2024 | |
| 82.2% | 2024 | |
| 75.4% | 2024 | |
| Human Development Index | 0.756 | 2023 |
Values observed in 2026, 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).