The world in 2046 (projected)
For 1 January 2046, the UN projects 9.46 billion people alive, and 135 million births and 87.3 million deaths during the year.
That is 1.19 billion more people than in 2026.
The median age is 35.2. 21% of the people are under 15 and 15% are 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth is 76.6 years, and women have 2.1 children on average at that year’s rates.
Countries with more than 100 million people: 18.
Figures for 2046 are UN projections (medium variant). Estimates end in 2023.
- Population, 1 January 2046
- 9,464,147,498
- Median age
- 35.2
- Births in 2046
- 134,763,860
- Deaths in 2046
- 87,281,955
- Life expectancy at birth
- 76.6
- Children per woman
- 2.11
- Under 15
- 20.8%
- 65 and over
- 15.3%
You would be...
Only the year is needed. It stays in this browser.
Enter your birth year to see where you fit in.
The most populous countries
| Country | Population | Under 15 | 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1,658,907,103 | 18.7% | 13.0% |
| China | 1,302,069,502 | 9.7% | 28.7% |
| United States | 376,634,414 | 16.0% | 22.5% |
| Pakistan | 351,206,204 | 30.2% | 5.8% |
| Nigeria | 338,987,213 | 32.6% | 4.2% |
| Indonesia | 317,694,306 | 19.8% | 13.8% |
| Brazil | 218,935,711 | 15.1% | 20.2% |
| Bangladesh | 209,636,988 | 20.6% | 11.5% |
| Ethiopia | 208,500,219 | 31.5% | 4.9% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 197,152,322 | 39.0% | 3.4% |
Development and urbanisation
| Indicator | Latest value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living in cities | 47.8% | 2046, 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 2046, 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).