Population ranking 1996 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 1996, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (1,217,550,000). A total of 217 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (1996) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,217,550,000 |
| 2 | India | 979,678,458 |
| 3 | United States | 269,394,000 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 203,204,348 |
| 5 | Brazil | 164,202,549 |
| 6 | Russian Federation | 148,160,129 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 138,557,092 |
| 8 | Japan | 125,757,000 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 124,862,179 |
| 10 | Nigeria | 113,754,779 |
| 11 | Mexico | 92,452,702 |
| 12 | Germany | 81,914,831 |
| 13 | Viet Nam | 73,156,447 |
| 14 | Philippines | 72,190,242 |
| 15 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 67,028,048 |
| 16 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 62,881,300 |
| 17 | Turkiye | 61,951,134 |
| 18 | Thailand | 59,920,064 |
| 19 | France | 59,754,504 |
| 20 | Ethiopia | 59,467,635 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1996 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1996 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| China | #2 | #2 |
| India | #1 | #1 |
| United States | #3 | #3 |
| Indonesia | #4 | #4 |
| Brazil | #7 | #7 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population in 1996?
China, with 1,217,550,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
217 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 1996. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.