Which country has the largest population as of 2024?

Which country has the largest population as of 2024? India. United Nations estimates place India ahead of China in population during 2024.

India's rise to the top reflects decades of population growth combined with China's changing demographics. India has a relatively younger age structure and continued population momentum, while China has experienced low birth rates and population decline in recent years. The ranking therefore depends on the reference year and the population estimate used.

India overtook China around 2023, although the exact crossover cannot be observed with perfect precision because countries do not conduct censuses on the same schedule and population estimates are model-based. India has not held a recent nationwide census comparable to China's regular population counts, so international organizations use demographic projections and official data where available.

The figure includes India's states and union territories. China remains the world's second-most populous country, followed by the United States. Population rank is not the same as population density: India is enormous in total population, while smaller countries can be much more crowded per square kilometre.