Population ranking 1961 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1961, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (660,330,000). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1961) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 660,330,000 |
| 2 | India | 446,564,729 |
| 3 | United States | 183,691,000 |
| 4 | Russian Federation | 121,236,000 |
| 5 | Japan | 94,055,000 |
| 6 | Indonesia | 90,791,249 |
| 7 | Brazil | 74,605,447 |
| 8 | Germany | 73,377,632 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 53,310,348 |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 52,800,000 |
| 11 | Italy | 50,536,350 |
| 12 | France | 47,905,982 |
| 13 | Pakistan | 46,921,277 |
| 14 | Nigeria | 45,989,310 |
| 15 | Ukraine | 43,399,766 |
| 16 | Mexico | 37,890,118 |
| 17 | Viet Nam | 33,409,059 |
| 18 | Spain | 30,739,250 |
| 19 | Poland | 29,964,000 |
| 20 | Turkiye | 29,119,238 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1961 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1961 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| China | #2 | #2 |
| India | #1 | #1 |
| United States | #3 | #3 |
| Russian Federation | #9 | #9 |
| Japan | #12 | #12 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population in 1961?
China, with 660,330,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1961. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.