Population ranking 1974 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1974, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (900,350,000). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1974) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 900,350,000 |
| 2 | India | 597,041,391 |
| 3 | United States | 213,854,000 |
| 4 | Russian Federation | 133,432,000 |
| 5 | Indonesia | 128,555,045 |
| 6 | Japan | 110,162,000 |
| 7 | Brazil | 105,089,675 |
| 8 | Germany | 78,967,433 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 75,839,348 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 67,415,487 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 61,679,144 |
| 12 | Mexico | 57,320,149 |
| 13 | United Kingdom | 56,229,974 |
| 14 | Italy | 55,110,868 |
| 15 | France | 53,746,571 |
| 16 | Ukraine | 48,576,570 |
| 17 | Viet Nam | 45,413,537 |
| 18 | Philippines | 41,174,341 |
| 19 | Turkiye | 40,210,234 |
| 20 | Thailand | 39,952,891 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1974 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1974 | 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 1974?
China, with 900,350,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1974. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.