Population ranking 1981 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1981, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (993,885,000). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1981) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 993,885,000 |
| 2 | India | 703,696,250 |
| 3 | United States | 229,466,000 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 152,485,035 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 139,941,000 |
| 6 | Brazil | 124,063,109 |
| 7 | Japan | 117,661,000 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 90,303,105 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 85,802,049 |
| 10 | Germany | 78,407,907 |
| 11 | Nigeria | 76,068,103 |
| 12 | Mexico | 68,892,108 |
| 13 | Italy | 56,501,675 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 56,333,829 |
| 15 | France | 55,603,353 |
| 16 | Viet Nam | 53,738,141 |
| 17 | Ukraine | 50,189,281 |
| 18 | Philippines | 49,311,727 |
| 19 | Thailand | 46,575,855 |
| 20 | Turkiye | 46,321,190 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1981 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1981 | 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 1981?
China, with 993,885,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1981. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.