Population ranking 1979 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1979, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (969,005,000). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1979) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 969,005,000 |
| 2 | India | 671,155,747 |
| 3 | United States | 225,055,000 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 145,434,834 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 138,027,000 |
| 6 | Brazil | 118,380,821 |
| 7 | Japan | 115,890,000 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 85,935,072 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 78,997,039 |
| 10 | Germany | 78,126,350 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 71,498,242 |
| 12 | Mexico | 65,648,865 |
| 13 | Italy | 56,317,749 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 56,246,951 |
| 15 | France | 54,979,851 |
| 16 | Viet Nam | 51,378,211 |
| 17 | Ukraine | 49,721,381 |
| 18 | Philippines | 46,807,103 |
| 19 | Thailand | 44,718,434 |
| 20 | Turkiye | 44,510,429 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1979 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1979 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| China | #2 | #2 |
| India | #1 | #1 |
| United States | #3 | #3 |
| Indonesia | #4 | #4 |
| Russian Federation | #9 | #9 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population in 1979?
China, with 969,005,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1979. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.