The world in 2042 (projected)
For 1 January 2042, the UN projects 9.26 billion people alive, and 136 million births and 82.4 million deaths during the year.
That is 985 million more people than in 2026.
The median age is 34.4. 21% of the people are under 15 and 15% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 76.1 years, and women have 2.1 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 18.
Figures for 2042 are UN projections (medium variant). Estimates end in 2023.
- Population, 1 January 2042
- 9,259,513,662
- Median age
- 34.4
- Births in 2042
- 135,635,914
- Deaths in 2042
- 82,442,508
- Life expectancy at birth
- 76.1
- Children per woman
- 2.12
- Under 15
- 21.1%
- 65 and over
- 14.6%
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The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1,633,785,338 | 19.6% | 11.6% |
| China | 1,332,510,780 | 9.5% | 27.3% |
| United States | 372,088,149 | 16.0% | 22.1% |
| Pakistan | 332,155,710 | 31.1% | 5.5% |
| Nigeria | 320,041,666 | 34.0% | 3.8% |
| Indonesia | 313,645,852 | 20.3% | 12.6% |
| Brazil | 219,327,789 | 15.6% | 18.4% |
| Bangladesh | 204,607,915 | 22.1% | 10.2% |
| Ethiopia | 193,876,319 | 33.0% | 4.6% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 179,136,049 | 40.6% | 3.3% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 47.3% | 2042, projected |
| 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 2042, 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).