Population ranking 1972 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1972, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (862,030,000). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1972) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 862,030,000 |
| 2 | India | 570,482,142 |
| 3 | United States | 209,896,000 |
| 4 | Russian Federation | 131,909,000 |
| 5 | Indonesia | 122,039,841 |
| 6 | Japan | 107,188,000 |
| 7 | Brazil | 100,146,797 |
| 8 | Germany | 78,688,452 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 71,641,519 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 63,583,194 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 58,601,748 |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 56,086,065 |
| 13 | Italy | 54,381,345 |
| 14 | Mexico | 54,030,168 |
| 15 | France | 52,962,356 |
| 16 | Ukraine | 47,946,893 |
| 17 | Viet Nam | 43,429,168 |
| 18 | Philippines | 39,408,560 |
| 19 | Turkiye | 38,430,221 |
| 20 | Thailand | 37,933,929 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1972 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1972 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| China | #2 | #2 |
| India | #1 | #1 |
| United States | #3 | #3 |
| Russian Federation | #9 | #9 |
| Indonesia | #4 | #4 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population in 1972?
China, with 862,030,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1972. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.